BEIJING—President Xi Jinping, battling a persistent downturn in China’s economy, is trying to gird his rule by demanding absolute loyalty from the Communist Party and attacking officials who stifle his policies. In recent weeks, Mr. Xi has put members of the ruling party on notice. He summoned senior officials from across China to warn them about “major risks” to the world’s No. 2 economy, reminding them to shoulder responsibility for solving problems. His administration issued a slew of new party directives demanding “unity...

Source: Wall Street Journal March 03, 2019 10:30 UTC