But at what cost? The Economist draws backlash over ‘eco-authoritarian’ China label

British publication The Economist has come under fire across social media for calling China an “eco-authoritarian” state over its Yangtze River fishing ban, with some users calling out the outlet for its use of the “but at what cost” trope.In a piece published on July 27, the publication outlined China’s efforts to restore Asia’s longest waterway, which has experienced decades of environmental degradation, leading to a decline in fish and other species populations.“The Chinese Communist Party, once famous for pillaging from the natural world, has set to protecting parts of it. But the country’s ‘eco-authoritarian’ approach deserves scrutiny,” The Economist said in a social media post linking to the article.