China's economy softens in August as Beijing continues to grapple with lagging demand

Most governments would very much like to have those growth stats. And the low import figures. Western regimes are trying to implement juche-style self-reliance, reducing imports.

China's big problem is debt - particularly in the property sector. Like the West with sub-prime mortgages, they failed to regulate and will have to take the hit. Dictatorships have a few extra tools to deal with that, but it is going to sting the figures across the board for a good while yet.

They are also a global factory operating in a declining global economy. There is no escaping that either. Governments are prioritising their geopolitical games over growth. It's self-defeating as growth pays for public services (as the UK discovered - their Brexit bonuses so far are mostly the loss of public and private sector services). Emulate North Korean juche and you get a more North Korean economy.

And when the economy slides, people are careful with their cash. Their savings are their only shield to protect themselves against whatever idiot policies their governments unleash upon them.

By reading the articles here, you'd think China would be the first country on earth to collapse. I'm looking at Europe first, courtesy of USA.

would be the first country on earth to collapse. I'm looking at Europe first

Europe isn’t a country

By reading the articles here, you'd think China would be the first country on earth to collapse. I'm looking at Europe first, courtesy of USA.

I read the article but I do not think China is collapsing. However, everyone, even the CCP itself, knows things are not as rosy as before the pandamic.

Let's say you are right about economies of European countries collapsing. China exports billions of goods to European countries every year. If the economies of those countries collapse, you think there would be no effect on China? China sure does not want that to happen.

Chinese nationalist keeps saying "We do not need the West. Our domestic market is big enough."

Look at Japan. One time it was predicted to take over the world by using its economic might. Good time does not last forever.

Most governments would very much like to have those growth stats.

If only they were the truth. Sadly, we've learned they are not truthful, but made up numbers by the CCP. Seems odd since producing factual data is in the Chinese Constitution ... er ... provided it doesn't embarrass the CCP or any party members. We all know that someone in the CCP will be embarrassed, so the numbers are all made up.

Nobody thinks that China will collapse. We only hope that regular Chinese people will get tired of Xi and the Military having complete control over their ability to live and work as they'd like. Many govts are there to make people's lives safer and better, even if it harms the govt.

So which country in the west wouldn't just love to have those figures?

The numbers were slightly not as wonderful as last year, yet the author makes out the sky is falling.

So which country in the west wouldn't just love to have those figures?

China would like to have those CCP published figures.

https://www.worldeconomics.com/DataQualityRatings/China.aspx The data the CCP provides is given a "C" rating. "Use with caution" It is 66th in the order of trustworthiness.

The main current problems are that data showing unfavourable movements in economic activity has from time to time been suppressed or published later than expected, and some data is out of date or understated.

This is a good read on the subject.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/peak-china-why-do-chinas-growth-projections-differ-so-much/

By reading the articles here, you'd think China would be the first country on earth to collapse

Not collapse but stagnate as a middle income country unable to advance further as their population ages out and declines rapidly.

I don't know why westerners continue to assume that the CCP wants to "stimulate demand". They are running a mercantile trade policy. Export, Export, Export. All the state's resources are shoved right up the export alley, there's nothing there for domestic demand.

If the CCP don't care about their people, their youths, why should western economists care?