經濟學人｜2026.09.26《中國 x 亞洲版塊》習近平接班人懸缺恐掀政治風暴？北京如何把民怨當壓力計？中國PISA高分背後的隱憂、日本兒童貧窮、印度學歷貶值與澳洲AI佈局｜TheEconomist

Quoting from The Economist China x Asia section (published September 26, 2026) 👇 Please refer to the following timeline to jump to the paragraphs you are interested in: 📚 Article Titles: 00:00 Opening 02:43 What Mao can teach China about managing America 09:38 China’s Communist Party faces a generational shift 20:00 China’s kids rank near the top in global school tests 38:33 Is China easing some online censorship? 49:49 India’s education system is failing in new ways 53:52 Why relative poverty is stubbornly high for Japanese children 59:29 Australia’s giant data-centre boom --------- 🎙️ This week, The Economist delves into the current political power transition in China, the mobilization and limits of the education system, the fine-tuning strategies of online public opinion control, and the structural challenges faced by Asian countries in the development of the next generation and the competition for AI computing power. From who holds power and how children learn, to who owns computing power and energy, this guide will show you how Asian countries are turning today's institutional choices into opportunities or limitations for the next generation. #️⃣ PART 1｜The CCP's Generational Succession and its "Protracted War" with the US 👑 The Rise and Characteristics of the Seventh Generation Cadres: Following the 20th National Congress of the CCP, Xi Jinping continues to hold power, but the Central Committee is undergoing a large-scale generational shift. The proportion of officials born in the late 1960s and 1970s—the "seventh generation"—is expected to rise sharply from 8% to over 40%. These cadres grew up during the reform and opening-up period of the 1980s, more than half of them hold doctoral degrees, and many have backgrounds in engineering, finance, or state-owned enterprise management. ⚠️ Succession Vacancies and Power Concerns: Since Xi Jinping has not yet designated a successor, the future power transition may face political turmoil and uncertainty. ⚔️ Mao Zedong's "On Protracted War" and Strategy with the US: Beijing think tanks and officials define the Sino-US relationship as a "strategic stalemate." Following trade wars and technological sanctions, China has established countermeasures in key mineral sectors such as rare earths, creating a fragile balance of "mutually assured disruption." To achieve technological self-sufficiency, Chinese society is paying a heavy economic price, enduring the pressure of slowing income growth, akin to a protracted war. #️⃣ PART 2｜China's Exam Machine Surpasses the US and UK 📊 Impressive PISA 2025 Results: Students from the "BSJZ" (Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang) representing China won global championships in mathematics and science, and ranked second only to Singapore in reading. 🔍 National Estimation and Regional Disparities: Although the per capita disposable income in the BSJZ region is about 60% higher than the Chinese average, if the overall economic level of China is estimated, China's overall mathematics score (estimated at 536 points) and the average score across the three subjects (501 points) still rank among the top in the world, demonstrating an extremely strong test-taking mobilization capacity. 💡 The Pressure and Limitations Behind High Scores: A robust examination system can quickly cultivate basic talent, but whether it can provide the next generation with the freedom to ask questions and explore innovation remains key to long-term competitiveness. #️⃣ PART 3｜Firmly Adjusting Cyberspace and Public Opinion Control 🛑 State Media Criticizes "One-Stop Deletion": Party journals such as Qiushi*, *China Youth Daily*, and *Banyue Tan have published rare articles criticizing local officials for their brutal suppression of speech and their habit of "solving problems by addressing those who raise them." 📉 Breaking the Myth of "Zero Public Opinion": Local governments have long used "zero public opinion" as a criterion for official promotions, leading local officials to desperately cover up problems and suppress grassroots demands. ⚖️ The Art of Fine-Tuning the Public Grievance Explosion Valve: The Beijing authorities are not turning to freedom of speech, but rather hoping to use minor public grievances as a "pressure gauge" reflecting grassroots governance problems, avoiding excessive censorship that could trigger a more serious crisis of trust and social explosion. #️⃣ PART 4｜Indian Education, Japanese Poverty, and Australian Computing Power 🎓 Indian Educational Failure and Devaluation of Degrees: India's higher education system has expanded rapidly, with tens of thousands of affiliated colleges of questionable quality, turning into "misery machines." Only 7% of university graduates find regular employment within a year, resulting in a severe disconnect between academic qualifications and skills. 💔 Japanese Childhood Relative Poverty and the Impact of Inflation: Japan's relative poverty rate among ...