Analysis Claims China Hiding True Economic Growth Data

As China watchers call into question Beijing’s claimed GDP growth figure for last year, a Japanese financial reporter estimates the world’s second-largest economy not only expanded less than reported—but also contracted. Last month, China’s National Bureau of Statistics said the country had surpassed its 5 percent economic target for 2023 with a rate of 5.2 percent GDP growth in inflation-adjusted terms. This exceeded earlier expectations of the International Monetary Fund and other leading financial institutions. The Chinese economy is beset by a range of problems, including deflation, muted global appetite for exports, and a tumbling stock market. Subject matter experts…