Current Issues in China and Their Implications for China’s Competitiveness

The remarkable economic development of China in recent decades presents a threat to the traditional status of global hegemony. Along with the rising question of whether China will become the next new leader on the global stage, this chapter discusses the three key issues in China: the US–China trade war, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the national security law in Hong Kong. Throughout the discussion on these three major issues, we highlight the importance of distinguishing the national and business interests. Firstly, the US–China conflict will be largely alleviated when both countries distinguish the national and business interests. Similarly, the BRI will be more sustainable once the Chinese government successfully addresses the business and state interests separately. Lastly, establishing a clear boundary between politics and economy will effectively resolve the tension between the Hong Kong protesters and the central government of China. Although this chapter discusses the current issues in China, the findings from these issues are not only limited to China’s situation. Perhaps, the majority of conflicts in the contemporary world will be — at least partially although it is not fully — mitigated when the politics and economy are distinguished as this chapter argues.