China Puts Security Ahead of Growth as Economic Pressures Mount, Analysts Say

New restrictions on investment, data, and information signal Beijing’s growing focus on security over economic development.

A security guard stands at his post during the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2024. Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images

As China grapples with a prolonged economic slowdown, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is increasingly prioritizing political security and social control over economic growth, marking a significant shift from the development-focused model that defined much of the country’s rise over the past two decades.

While Beijing continues to publicly emphasize economic growth targets, recent policy measures, regulatory changes, and regime priorities suggest that national security considerations are taking precedence over market expansion, private-sector development, and international engagement, according to analysts who spoke to The Epoch Times.