New Year, new problems as China suffers under Xi

TODAY is the start of the Chinese Year of the Rabbit – a zodiac animal traditionally linked to “peace, diplomacy and luck”.

- Marco Giannangeli

But this weekend’s celebrations will only add to a growing list of woes for President Xi Jinping.

His dreams of overtaking the US as the world’s largest economy were dealt a blow last week. Statistics show China’s population is set to fall – 10 years sooner than predicted.

India, meanwhile, will become the world’s most populous country – if it has not already done so.

New Year festivities usually bring some joy to the nation, as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel to be with family.

Yet it will be the first time many have been able to share pandemic tales.

China expert Dean Cheng said: “Xi had a choice: sustain his zero-Covid lockdown policy and deny hundreds of millions their only opportunity to see family for the year, or roll the dice and remove restrictions.