Peking stoppar publicering av viktig ekonomisk och demografisk data | NTD NYHETER

An analysis from the Wall Street Journal has recently pointed out that Beijing has stopped publishing hundreds of statistical data. It started with the decision in April last year that two large exchanges, Shanghai and Chengcheng, would stop publicizing real-time data on the influx and outflow of foreign investments. Foreign investors in China sold shares at a value of $22 billion within two weeks. Two central data sources from the real estate market were also shut down by the regime as early as 2022 after heavy price drops. During the past few years, the real estate crisis in China has erased billions of dollars from Chinese households. Other figures have also disappeared, including China's unemployment statistics. In 2023, Beijing suddenly stopped reporting youth unemployment when it was close to 15%, a historically high level. However, many economists have expressed doubt due to Beijing's censorship and believe that the real figure can exceed 40%. Zhang Dandan, a prominent economist from one of China's leading universities, Beijing University, also supports this assessment. China has also stopped reporting how many city dwellers receive unemployment support. As for demographic data, analyzes show that China's official death toll during the COVID-19 pandemic is only a fraction of the real number. According to NTD's own research and expert analyzes, the number of COVID-related deaths in China can exceed 100 million. One of the authorities' decisions that aroused speculation is that China stopped reporting the number of cremated bodies at the end of 2022. In China, cremation is the most common way to take care of the deceased. There are also several examples. Just as Japan studies national salt consumption, soy, a basic ingredient in Chinese cooking, could reflect population changes. But even this statistic was not updated by China in the middle of 2021, when the pandemic escalated in the country. Another reason behind the darkening may be fear of reprisals. Questioning the authorities' figures can have serious consequences, both for Chinese researchers and foreign companies. Several prominent Chinese economists have been forced to resign or have been censored after criticizing official BNP statistics. Others express concern about Beijing's counter-reactions to U.S. bribes. In 2023, Beijing launched an extensive offensive against foreign risk-assessing companies. However, Chinese authorities searched the offices of three U.S. consulting firms in China. As a motivation, the regime stated concern for sensitive data related to China's national security. At the same time, the use of unconventional data markers can give a more realistic picture of the situation in China. But for the environment, the lack of reliable information is a major challenge in cooperation with the country. Flora Hua reported for NTD News.