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China has long maintained a 5% economic growth target, even as many analysts questioned the reliability of the numbers. But this year, Beijing broke that streak.

If growth figures have been widely seen as inflated, why lower the target now?

And what does the move signal as China prepares for a potential Trump–Xi summit at the end of March?

Meanwhile, China’s export numbers look unusually strong. But what might be behind those stellar figures, and what might Beijing prefer the world not to notice?

Join Terri as she examines the signals behind China’s latest economic messaging and what they could mean for China’s economy and its geopolitical posture.

Views expressed in this episode are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

—

Terri Wu is a Washington-based freelance reporter for The Epoch Times covering education and China-related issues. Send tips to terri.wu@epochtimes.com.

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China Sets Lowest Economic Growth Target in Decades—What It Doesn’t Want You to Know