China’s Economic Slowdown, Rising Public Discontent on Display at Two Sessions
China’s annual “Two Sessions” offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of an otherwise opaque political system — but how much do they really reveal? This year’s meetings come as Beijing faces slowing growth, mounting debt and rising social pressure, while ongoing political purges are reshaping the military and party leadership. Premier Li Qiang has set the lowest growth target in decades, even as defense spending remains steady and industrial policy prioritizes self-reliance over consumption. Are these meetings genuine signals of policy direction — or carefully staged political theater? In this episode, we examine China’s economic challenges, elite power dynamics, and social tensions, and what the Two Sessions reveal about Beijing’s priorities at a moment of uncertainty. *Recorded on March 12, 2026 at 2pm Taiwan Standard Time Host: Wen-Ti Sung Producer: Tina Hsu Our guests: Wang Hao - Writer and International Relations Commentator Frank Tian Xie - University of South Carolina, Aiken, John M. Olin Palmetto Chair Professor of Business and Professor of Marketing
