The days of Chinese double-digit growth are gone. Yet, the analytical separation of economic matters from strategic and military planning is both surprising and illogical. Beijing's capacity to continue building its military power is diminishing much faster than is commonly appreciated.
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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Japan’s Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi inspect a guard of honor on October 29, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Getty Images)