Beijing [China], October 22 (ANI): The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) convened in Beijing for the Fourth Plenum of its 20th Central Committee on October 20. While state media claimed that the closed-door meeting would chart the course for the upcoming “15th Five-Year Plan,” the real concern lies not in planning for the future but in addressing the deepening economic crisis and rising internal discord within the CCP, according to The Epoch Times. Although the state-run Xinhua News Agency boasted of “remarkable progress” under the ongoing 14th Five-Year Plan, analysts and economists contend that these assertions bear little resemblance to reality. Xu Zhen, a veteran financial expert, described the past five years as a period marked by “economic collapse.” He noted that China’s real estate bubble—highlighted by Evergrande’s bankruptcy—has shattered one of the nation’s main engines of growth.
“Exports have faltered amid the U.S.-China trade war, and consumer confidence has evaporated since the pandemic,” Xu explained. “The result is a flood of bankruptcies, job losses, and overwhelming debt across households and local governments.” Evergrande’s delisting from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and its liquidation proceedings, he added, symbolize China’s broader economic decay. Wang He, a commentator on Chinese current affairs, echoed similar concerns, arguing that the CCP’s draconian lockdowns “shattered the economy” and wiped out much of the middle class—the backbone of domestic spending. He further stated that Beijing’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy has left China diplomatically isolated and economically fragile. Official data show that China’s GDP grew just 4.8 percent in the third quarter of 2025, down from 5.2 percent in the previous quarter—its weakest performance in a year. Deflationary pressures have returned, exports to the U.S. have plunged by 27 percent, and producer prices have fallen for 36 consecutive months. Despite these alarming figures, Xinhua continues to tout “miracles of growth and stability.” Wang dismissed such claims as propaganda, warning that “China’s real growth may already be below 3 percent” and that public unrest is mounting. “The so-called stability is an illusion,” he said. “The CCP is sitting atop a social and economic time bomb,” The Epoch Times reported. (ANI)
China Accused of Coercive Diplomacy as Ex-Deng Aide Threatens UK Over Controversial London Embassy Plan
London [UK], October 22 (ANI): Victor Gao, who once served as a translator for the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and is known for promoting Beijing’s political stance, has sparked criticism after issuing a veiled threat to the United Kingdom over its hesitation to approve China’s proposed new embassy in London. According to Phayul, Gao warned that China would retaliate by denying Britain access to its embassy site in Beijing if the UK blocks the project. Speaking to Times Radio, Gao said he hoped the British government would avoid “antagonising a major global economy and military power”—a statement widely interpreted as an attempt to pressure London through intimidation rather than diplomacy. When asked whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer would still be welcomed in Beijing should the UK halt the embassy plan, Gao bluntly remarked that the British leader “would be wise not to do so.”
The controversy arises amid growing tensions over China’s plan to construct a massive embassy complex in London’s Tower Hamlets. The proposed site—set to become China’s largest embassy globally—has faced fierce opposition from residents, lawmakers, and security experts citing espionage and security risks. Senior Conservative MPs, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Alicia Kearns and Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, have urged the government to reject the application. Kearns warned that the embassy’s proximity to key infrastructure and housing could facilitate intelligence gathering, while Tugendhat described the project as a potential “national security hazard.” The Chinese government acquired the Royal Mint Court site for around £255 million in 2018 but has since faced mounting resistance as public opposition intensifies. Members of the Tibetan, Uyghur, Hong Konger, Taiwanese, and Chinese dissident communities in the UK have held large protests against the plan. Free Tibet, a UK-based NGO leading the campaign, warned that the project could strengthen Beijing’s influence and surveillance over exiled communities, mirroring China’s repressive tactics abroad, Phayul reported. (ANI)
684 words, 4 minutes read time.
About The Author
