Three months ago it appeared that China’s economy was on track to recover relatively quickly after being closed off to the world during the pandemic. Consumers were spending again. Exports picked up. Even China’s beleaguered housing market gave hints it was stabilizing.That is no longer the case. Official data released Monday revealed that the annual pace of growth in China’s economy tumbled to just a little over 3 percent in the spring, well below the government’s target.Now the faltering economy appears to have helped prompt a shift in the willingness of senior Chinese officials to engage in diplomatic talks with geopolitical rivals abroad, and to show more openness on economic policy at home.The change in tone is particularly visible in China’s relations with the United States. Despite several years of fraying ties and concerted eff …
