they ARE fudging the numbers
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...