There has been much talk over recent years about generational challenges to the Chinese economy, and whether China might get old before it gets rich. The main focus has been on the consequences of China’s demographic transformation with the 2020s already witnessing (albeit moderate) population decline. The UN calculates that by as soon as 2050, the overall population is likely to drop from a just over 1.4 billion (in 2022) to just over 1.3 billion. Over the longer term, the decline is expected to be even more dramatic:

Popular perceptions of China in Europe have clearly shifted over the past few years. This article builds on the literature that assesses how narratives of China emerge and change, and how they influence policy on how best to respond to China’s rise.