China has long made it clear that reporting on politics, civil society and sensitive historical events is forbidden. Increasingly, it wants to keep negative news about the economy under control, too. A government directive sent to journalists in China on Friday named six
economic topics to be “managed,” according to the order.
The list of topics includes worse-than-expected data that could show the economy is slowing; local government debt risks; the impact of the trade war with the US, signs of declining consumer confidence; the risks of
stagflation, or rising prices coupled with slowing economic growth and “hot-button issues to show the difficulties of people’s lives”.
The government’s new directive betrays a mounting anxiety among Chinese leaders that the country could be heading into a growing economic slump. Even before the trade war between the US and China, residents of the world’s second-largest economy were showing signs of keeping a tight grip on their wallets. Industrial profit
growth has slowed for four consecutive months, and China’s stock market is near its lowest level in four years. “It’s possible that the situation is more serious than previously thought,” said Zhang Ming, a retired professor. He said the effect of the censorship strategy could cause people to believe rumours about the economy. “But in barring the media from reporting, things may get more chaotic.”
