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opposed to the country's future. His first priority is to stay out of prison...hence the "3rd Term" talk...after that, it's whatever Musk, Thiel and other true Billionaire Plutocrats tell him to do domestically...and of course internationally, it's all up to Putin.

That being said, I've seen other recent articles that echo what Friedman is saying about China...notably the attached RAND paper...summarized in the closing paragraphs...
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China's economy and its high-tech industries are still linked, of course. A stronger economy means increased demand, bigger profits, greater research and development, larger resources for techno-industrial policy, and more firms in emerging sectors like AI. China's economy may look a bit better this year, with tenuous indications of property market stabilization and Beijing promising support for domestic consumption.

But even if overall economic growth remains comparatively weak and many Chinese firms continue to struggle, China's central and local governments will keep supporting high-tech industries and emerging stars like DeepSeek. Xi's priorities are clear, and fiscal constraints—especially for localities—are not yet strong enough to curtail support to high-tech firms. That means that Western policymakers shouldn't make the mistake of believing China is down and out, and they shouldn't be surprised when China continues to catch up or make breakthroughs in critical and emerging technologies. Investors in China's financial markets are evidently starting to share that view.

For now, at least, China's enormous and competitive domestic market combined with nurturing technological and industrial policies may be enough to achieve Xi's goals and spark more “Sputnik moments” in the West.
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I seriously doubt that DJT and the "Loyal" cult he's selected to run this country are up to the task of dealing effectively with Xi.


Link: https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/02/focus-on-the-new-economy-not-the-old-why-chinas-economic.html#:~:text=Slowdown%20Understates%20Gains-,Focus%20on%20the%20New%20Economy%2C%20Not%20the%20Old%3A%20Why,China's%20Economic%20Slowdown%20Understates%2