麻豆约拍

Xi Jinping has begun an unprecedented third term as Chinese president, after securing his position at the Communist Party Congress.

But key economic data was delayed until after the congress ended. It was lower than government targets, causing Chinese markets to fall.

The Chinese economy is floundering; unemployment is skyrocketing, and the housing market is collapsing. There鈥檚 also no sign of an end to COVID lockdowns 鈥� which have hamstrung business and manufacturing since the start of the pandemic.

Since the start of this century, China鈥檚 economic growth was the envy of the world, but in 2022, it鈥檒l be the first year since the 1990s that economic output will fall behind the rest of Asia.

President Xi says the economy is now his top priority, but his focus in his first two terms was to consolidate power and increase political control. Will his new term be any different?

This week on the Inquiry, we鈥檙e asking: Is China鈥檚 economy in crisis?

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producers: Ravi Naik and Ben Cooper
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: Kelly Young
Broadcast Coordinator: Jacqui Johnson

(Image: Chinese yuan cash bills and Chinese flag: Javier Ghersi/Getty)