China is not fudging the numbers. otherwise, it would imply that major US companies that do business with China are also fudging their numbers. Trade with china has surged in recent decades.
China’s 2015 GDP Was Exaggerated By Fake Data, Analysis Shows
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-01/china-s-2...
China's average GDP growth has been roughly 30% less than reported, based on the measures of its changes in national lighting
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/new-study-shin...
Another Chinese city admits 'fake' economic data
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-economy-data/anothe...