China’s growing local debt threatens economic progress
As China continues to invest heavily in infrastructure projects, a looming debt crisis at the local government level threatens to undermine the nation’s economic growth. Despite Beijing’s efforts to curb risky financing, local governments are struggling under the weight of mounting debt, raising concerns about their ability to sustain economic development. These local governments, often dependent on land sales for revenue, have turned to off-balance-sheet borrowing through financial vehicles to finance ambitious infrastructure projects. This opaque financing has obscured the true extent of their debt, creating hidden risk within China’s economy. The slowdown in China's real estate market has exacerbated…