Part 6/10:
The economic distress is compounded by recent labor unrest, strikes, and protests across China. Workers are reportedly out on strike due to unpaid wages and factory closures, pressures stemming from the wider trade war with the United States. These issues threaten Xi's grip on the nation, especially as mass protests often challenge the legitimacy of the ruling regime.
Chang emphasized that China's economy is not growing at the official 5.4% rate for Q1, and the sustained deflationary trends over the past 32 months suggest underlying economic weakness. The combination of financial crisis, economic contraction, and internal dissent paints a picture of a leadership under siege, which could explain Xi’s absence from the international stage at this critical juncture.