The publication of the first estimate of Chinese growth for 2014 has been greeted in France with a surprising wave of negative comments: one can read almost everywhere that this would be its lowest level since 1990, people hastily interpret it as the sign of a slowdown, and some even wonder about the risk of a collapse. Coming from a country where we would love to reach 1% in 2015, these observations are cheeky.

It is obviously not the first time that this denial about China’s situation expresses itself. By keeping on predicting that the country would not carry ...

Continue reading

Major international meetings held from November 10 to November 17 (APEC summits, ASEAN and G20) were characterized by the now predominant place occupied by China. The Chinese President stepped in each time from a position of strength. He has certainly benefited from the weakening of his interlocutors. Vladimir Putin faces the Ukrainian crisis. Barack Obama has been affected by the loss of the Senate. The Japanese Prime Minister remained discreet because of the economic difficulties of his country and was waiting to be received by Xi Jinping, despite the persisting disagreements about the East China Sea. As for Europeans, they ...

Continue reading

While the Chinese capital is getting ready to host the leaders of the Pacific Rim for their annual summit, families enjoy the autumn sun and its last rays to walk in Beihai Park, in the shade of willows bordering the lake and surrounding the White Pagoda. Grandmothers radiate happiness; couples make selfies with their latest smartphone and their children, less and less unique, express their joy. Three generations get together.

 Mao’s generation did not forget the misery and famine, which succeeded a century of violence, civil wars and foreign occupations marked by atrocities. But they also know that this ...

Continue reading