China’s Unlikely Rival: Japan
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April 12 (Bloomberg) -- Of all the nightmares ChinesePresident Xi Jinping figured he would have to face, a resurgentJapan Inc. surely wasn’t among them.
A major slowdown in the Chinese economy? Yes. Socialinstability? Absolutely. Debilitating pollution? Check. Rampantcorruption eating away at the Communist Party’s legitimacy? Youbet. An economically vibrant Japan emboldened to challenge Chinafor leadership in Asia? Hardly. With an assertive Shinzo Abe atthe helm, though, Japan may be poised to do just that, in waysthat could upend the dynamics of Asia’s future.