Some observers have criticized China's market economy for lacking the "creative destruction" that is said to give Western capitalism its lasting vitality.
Such doubts are misplaced as the new year is likely to underscore. In recent weeks, Didi Chuxing, the country's predominant ride services app, has moved to add bike-sharing options to its platform and has acquired Bluegogo, a bike operator that had run into difficulties. The move clearly positions Didi, already one of the world's most valuable startups, to take on current bike-sharing leader Mobike. Meanwhile, Meituan-Dianping, which is best known for its food delivery service and has more than 250 million users, has moved to offer car-hailing services in competition with Didi.