The Twin Crises Facing Xi Jinping: Economic Stagnation and Diplomatic Isolation | Digging into China China’s record-breaking July trade figures reveal a stark economic paradox: booming external trade contrasting with a sluggish domestic economy. While green-tech exports and tech-sector inflation propel headline values, volume growth remains modest. Beijing offsets Western tariffs through third-country re-routing and asymmetric currency devaluation against the Euro. However, this reliance on massive trade surpluses is accelerating international retaliation. The US is closing transshipment backdoors, while the EU moves toward comprehensive tariffs and security-based market barriers. This trade friction is compounded by geopolitical isolation. The quiet closure of Israel’s consulate in Chengdu highlights the fallout of Beijing’s transactional diplomacy in the Middle East. Facing growing protectionism and diplomatic retreat, China’s export-led model faces imminent, severe limits.
Source: The Twin Crises Facing Xi Jinping: Economic Stagnation and Diplomatic Isolation | Digging into China
