China’s leader could face five simultaneous demanding situations that will mark the trajectory of his country for the rest of the decade.  

Rough seas ahead.  

Photographer: Ton Molina/Bloomberg

President Xi Jinping likes to talk about rough seas to describe the risks China will face in the coming years. Luckily for him, he has not yet come across such excessive scenarios. A two-year economic crisis would likely have hampered his purpose of transforming his country into a superpower equivalent to the United States. However, it has managed to navigate an increasingly dark geopolitical landscape without suffering a real calamity.

As Donald Trump returns to the White House, Xi’s luck threatens to run out. It may face five simultaneous demanding situations that will shape China’s trajectory for the rest of the decade.