‘China shock 2.0’ is a false narrative born of Western anxiety: Chinese media | South China Morning Post

VirtualRichDream · 2026-04-02T08:06:45+00:00

Chinese state media defends the country's growth target of 4.5-5% by highlighting it as significantly higher than the global forecast. The editorials argue this goal reflects strategic planning, dismissing claims of economic slowdown and emphasizing sustainable growth.

VirtualRichDream

2026-04-02 08:06:45

Abstract generation in progress

A leading Chinese state media outlet has run back-to-back front-page editorials over the past two days pushing back against claims that China’s economy is losing steam and that the global economy is experiencing a “China shock 2.0”.

“Looking across the globe, China’s growth target stands out as second to none,” the state-run Economic Daily wrote in a Thursday editorial, noting that the country’s goal of achieving 4.5 to 5 per cent growth in 2026 was far higher than the 2.6 per cent global growth rate forecast by the World Bank in January.

It added that the target reflected China’s “strategic composure and policy acumen in pursuing steady, long-term development”, noting it had silenced claims that the economy was “losing speed”.

The comments came after Beijing set its lowest annual growth target since 1991 for this year, with policymakers focused on transforming the Chinese economy to put it on a more sustainable footing and reduce its vulnerability to external pressures.

With China just starting to implement its latest five-year plan, an overly ambitious growth target could lead to resources being misallocated and undermine the leadership’s long-term goals, the article said.

At the same time, an excessively low growth rate would fail to support industrial upgrading and technological innovation, it added, calling the 4.5 to 5 per cent target a “reasonable range”.

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

1 Likes