Is Chinese power about to peak?
The country’s historic ascent is levelling off. That need not make it more dangerous

The rise of China has been a defining feature of the world for the past four decades. Since the country began to open up and reform its economy in 1978, its GDP has grown by a dizzying 9% a year, on average. That has allowed a staggering 800m Chinese citizens to escape from poverty. Today China accounts for almost a fifth of global output. The sheer size of its market and manufacturing base has reshaped the global economy. Xi Jinping, who has ruled China for the past decade, hopes to use his country’s increasing heft to reshape the geopolitical order, too.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Peak China?”
Leaders
May 13th 2023
From the May 13th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
America cannot dodge the consequences of rising tariffs for ever
Their economic impact has been delayed but not averted

How A-listers are shaking up the consumer-goods business
Hailey Bieber, Rihanna and Ryan Reynolds are among a new cohort of celebrity entrepreneurs

William Ruto is taking Kenya to a dangerous place
The president’s authoritarian instincts are propelling a spiral of violence
China is building an entire empire on data
It will change the online economy and the evolution of artificial intelligence
Trumponomics 2.0 will erode the foundations of America’s prosperity
The Big Beautiful Bill is symptomatic of a wider malaise
Sir Keir Starmer is rapidly losing his authority
As well as his hope of achieving much in office