I have heard a theory that goes something like this: China spends massive amounts on propaganda yet everyone believes that China's economy is about to crash and

I have heard a theory that goes something like this: China spends massive amounts on propaganda yet everyone believes that China's economy is about to crash and the society is about to fall apart. Are they grossly incompetent? No. China wants the declining western powers to underestimate its rise and strength as cunning way of avoiding conflict until its outcome is certain. Make of it what you will. Having travelled to China a few times over the past two decades, I have witnessed the economic growth with my own eyes and it is quite real. That of course does not mean that any number coming out of China is real and that there are not big inbalances whoes correction is overdue.