To revive its sluggish economy, China set out this year to woo foreign investors and stabilize its ties with the West. But these goals are colliding with what China¡¯s leader, Xi Jinping, considers the paramount priority: bolstering national security in a world he sees as full of threats.
Xi has warned that China must fight back against a campaign by the United States to contain and suppress the country¡¯s rise. In this worldview, foreign rivals are using spies to weaken China¡¯s economy; Russia is not treated as a pariah but a vital partner in blunting the NATO menace; and the diplomatic stage is a place to assert China¡¯s influence and reshape the global order in its favor.
At home, authorities have sent a chill across foreign businesses by launching a nationwide crackdown on consulting firms with international ties. China¡¯s state broadcaster accused Western countries of trying to steal sensitive information in key industries with the help of consulting firms that help investors navigate the murky Chinese economy.
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