Economics
Xi’s Debt Crackdown Goes Into Hyperdrive With Anbang Takeover
- Move shows determination of government to get a grip on debt
- In China, the lines blur between private and public companies
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If you needed confirmation about China’s determination to rein in surging corporate debt, the dramatic government takeover of Anbang Insurance Group Co. is pretty much it.
The unprecedented seizure of a private insurer underscores President Xi Jinping’s policy drive to cut back on the debt-fueled excesses that have accompanied China’s growth miracle. It’s a direct hit to corporate binge spending that authorities want to stem; it energizes a long running anti-corruption campaign; and it demonstrates that short-term economic pain will be tolerated for the longer-term goal of a more sustainable expansion.