【明報專訊】THE SLOWDOWN in the Chinese economy after a period of rapid growth has brought about an unprecedented dilemma. True, since the Reform and Opening Up policy was launched 38 years ago, China's economic progress has always been characterised by controversies and disagreements. Still, the "cold confrontation" we are witnessing, in which high-ranking officials in the central government present their own views regardless of each other, is something that has not happened before. It is of crucial importance whether the arguments over the "economic line" will become arguments over the "political line" as a result of the specific political and economic background in 2017, when a lot of important events are to happen.