Thinking About ChinaOpinionChina’s Return to MaoismAs the economy falters, the CCP knows it must control everything in order to retain powerSavePrintA view shows cranes in front of the skyline of the Central Business District in Beijing on Oct. 18, 2021. Thomas Peter/ReutersJames Gorrie6/16/2022|Updated: 6/20/20220:00X 1CommentaryChina’s economy is in a serious and prolonged downward spiral.We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.Share this articleLeave a commentJames GorrieAuthorJames Gorrie is the author of the 2013 book “The China Crisis” and discusses current events and China on his YouTube Podcast, The Banana Republican. Author’s Selected ArticlesHow China Uses the Israel–Hamas Conflict to Reshape Global PoliticsDec 26, 2025How the CCP Persecutes Christians Who Celebrate Christmas in ChinaDec 23, 2025America’s Battle Against China’s Vast Spy NetworkDec 19, 2025How Tariffs Could Boost the US Economy and Fix the Trade Imbalance With ChinaDec 04, 2025Related TopicsChinamanufacturingeconomydevelopment