China's Economy Grows 5 Percent in First Quarter Despite Global Uncertainty

China's National Bureau of Statistics announced Thursday that the country's GDP reached approximately 33.4 trillion yuan (roughly $4.9 trillion USD) in Q1 2026, expanding 5 percent year-on-year and exceeding market expectations. The growth rate represents a slowdown from 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025. Chinese officials attributed resilience to domestic demand despite heightened uncertainty stemming from Middle East tensions. The result matters globally because China's economy is the world's second-largest, and its growth trajectory influences commodity prices, supply chains, and investment patterns worldwide.