By John Ross

THE Chinese government work report submitted on March 5 to the national legislature set an '[about] 5 percent' gross domestic product (GDP) growth target. This is a well-chosen target for several reasons that will be analyzed. But this target was immediately attacked in the Western media as extremely ambitious, with the Wall Street Journal declaring 'China Sets High Bar for Growth' and the Financial Times announcing that there's 'little cause for optimism that China will achieve its '[about] 5 percent' this year.'