The review period was characterized by President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power, China’s isolation from the world due to government-imposed lockdowns and substantial pressures on the economy. As China persisted in its strict COVID-19 policy, this stance gave rise to social protests in late 2022, underscoring a growing level of discontent among the population.
China’s economy was severely impacted by three years of government-imposed lockdowns and a real-estate crisis in 2021. Although a recovery can be expected in the near future, global recession and geopolitics further dampen the economy.
Ethnic minorities face significant social and economic exclusion and marginalization, which has triggered resistance and separatist movements in some parts of the country. In response, the government has implemented strict counter measures, including the internment of more than a million of Uyghurs in camps. Internationally, China has performed a diplomatic balancing act since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the country has became increasingly estranged from the West.
