China's Economy Is Stronger and Weaker Than You Think

Two very different narratives about China's economy emerged this week. In France, G7 leaders pushed back against what they see as China's growing dominance in key industries. In Beijing, meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry urged observers to look beyond data showing acute economic weakness. The reality is that China's economy is so large and complex that both narratives can be true at the same time. Ker Gibbs, a longtime China-based executive and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, explores this contradiction in his new book, The Fragile Dragon: Trade, Trump, and China's Vulnerabilities. Ker joins Eric from San Francisco to discuss his decades of experience working in China and what companies in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere need to understand before entering the Chinese market today. 📌 Topics Covered in This Episode • China's competing narratives of economic strength and weakness • Why weak consumer demand remains a major challenge • The role of exports in sustaining China's growth model • How Xi Jinping's policies are reshaping the economy • What foreign companies need to know before entering the China market • Why China's economic trajectory matters for the Global South Show Notes: Amazon: • The Fragile Dragon: Trade, Trump, and China's Vulnerabilities • by Ker Gibbs The New York Times: • China's Spending Slowdown Deepens as Households Tighten Their Belts • by Keith Bradsher Reuters: • G7 Leaders Tackle Reliance on China for Critical Minerals Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish: • French: www.projetafriquechine.com • | @AfrikChine • Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com • | @ChinaAmericas Join us on Patreon! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth