China’s Controlled Projection Masks Deeper Economic and Military Realities

Every year, China stages its so-called "Two Sessions," where the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference convene under tightly controlled scripts. What once was a forum for deliberation has degenerated into a choreographed propaganda event engineered by President Xi Jinping’s authoritarian regime.This year's session promises little in genuine debate but will deliver China’s official economic targets and policy priorities — unveiling the 15th five-year plan focused on technological self-sufficiency amid slowing growth. But beyond the polished announcements lies a nation struggling with high youth unemployment, weak domestic consumption, and faltering housing markets that belie the...