The end of Western naivety about China
A new China debate pits optimists against fatalists
Among Western democratic governments, this is a moment of unhappy clarity about China. Their bleak consensus follows years of naivety and wilful self-delusion about the nature of Xi Jinping’s regime. A changed mood—one of shared, durable gloom—was on display at the latest Stockholm China Forum. This is a gathering of American and European officials, scholars and business types that Chaguan has attended, on and off, since 2008 (Chinese diplomats and scholars attend some sessions).
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “The West drops naivety about China”
From the June 10th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from China
China needs its frightened officials to save the economy
After years of being hounded by anti-graft authorities, many are too afraid to act
The bad side-effects of China’s campaign to cut drug costs
Poor quality is one. An angry public is another
America and China are talking. But much gets lost in translation
How linguistic differences complicate relations between the great powers
It’s a good time to be an astrologer in China
In the face of hardship, the country’s youth are embracing superstition
The early days of the Trump administration, as viewed from China
A good start, but it could get worse quickly
How (un)popular is China’s Communist Party?
As the economy falters and the social compact frays, Xi Jinping wants to know