Politics
Is Cai Qi China’s real number two?
Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi appears to be Chinese President Xi Jinping’s right-hand man, but depending on whether trust or caution is higher in Xi’s calculations, Cai’s fate will be decided at the 21st Party Congress, says Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai.
Wen-Hsuan Tsai
Technology
Why hyper-efficient Singapore is Asia’s most AI-anxious society
A survey across Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and mainland China found Singapore leads the region in AI adoption, but also records the highest levels of anxiety over job displacement, deepfakes and AI dependence. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lee Si Min tells us more.
Lee Si Min
Politics
Japan and Taiwan’s strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific
Japan’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy and Taiwan’s expanding diplomatic vision are helping to foster an increasingly aligned approach while avoiding unnecessary confrontation with China. Japanese academic Madoka Fukuda tells us more.
Madoka Fukuda
Politics
Quietly, not silently: How Vietnam deals with China on the South China Sea
Vietnam did not sign the joint statement on the Tribunal Award invalidating China’s claims on the South China Sea. Hanoi’s consistent “speak less, do more” approach combines public restraint with a range of quieter policy tools, observes ISEAS academic Huynh Trung Dung.
Huynh Trung Dung
Technology
Why China’s universities stopped fighting AI
Having initially sought to restrict the use of generative AI, Chinese universities are increasingly incorporating it into teaching and research. However, institutions are also grappling with difficult questions over authorship, accountability and how to preserve academic integrity in the age of AI, notes Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu.
Liu Liu
Popular This Month
Society
[Video] ‘Bullying our ancestors’: Why Chinese netizens are boycotting LV
A seemingly ordinary trademark dispute between Louis Vuitton and Chinese milk tea chain Molly Tea has escalated into a wider debate over intellectual property and cultural ownership. As backlash builds, with many even calling for LV’s trademark to be revoked, the case has become a broader reckoning on how cultural motifs should be protected in a modern commercial world.
Yi Jina
Politics
America’s 250-year strategy meets China’s rise
For 250 years, US grand strategy has been built on preventing any rival from dominating Europe or Asia. China’s rise has ended America’s uncontested primacy in East Asia, forcing Washington to rethink how it can preserve its security and influence. US academic Robert S. Ross gives his assessment.
Robert S. Ross
Politics
The hidden divide: Why China’s vice-ministers rarely reach the top
In China, ministers and vice-ministers play distinct roles which may not be part of a single career path. A close study of ministerial officials informs the wider analysis of China’s political elite, say academics Li Cheng and Ren Xinyuan.
Li Cheng, Ren Xinyuan
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Society
[Video] Rare Hubei tornadoes expose China’s rising weather risk
Three rare tornadoes in Hubei exposed a stark new reality: China must prepare for increasingly complex extreme weather with better forecasting, more resilient cities and stronger disaster response. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina and Lu Lingming find out more.
Yi Jina, Lu Lingming
Society
[Video] China made it to the World Cup, just not on the pitch
China’s men’s football team is once again absent from the World Cup, but China is visible almost everywhere else around the tournament. ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming looks at how China made it into the World Cup economy, even as its team remains off the pitch.
Lu Lingming
Society
[Video] ‘Bullying our ancestors’: Why Chinese netizens are boycotting LV
A seemingly ordinary trademark dispute between Louis Vuitton and Chinese milk tea chain Molly Tea has escalated into a wider debate over intellectual property and cultural ownership. As backlash builds, with many even calling for LV’s trademark to be revoked, the case has become a broader reckoning on how cultural motifs should be protected in a modern commercial world.
Yi Jina
Culture
[Vox pop] Blood, lion dance or dialect: What makes a Chinese Singaporean?
As the movie Dear You brings the history of early Chinese migrants back into the spotlight, online conversations about Chinese identity and cultural heritage have grown louder. ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming and Yi Jina speak with Chinese Singaporeans about what Chinese identity, or “Chineseness”, means to them today.
Lu Lingming, Yi Jina
Culture
[Video] Living in the moment: Two Singaporean artists finding home in Jingdezhen
In Jingdezhen, China’s porcelain capital, Singaporean ceramists Ken Lu and Nelson Lim have each found their own mecca — a place for Ken to put down roots, and for Nelson to continually return to. Living in the Moment, produced by Lu Lingming and Yi Jina, is ThinkChina’s first documentary film. It explores how the city reshapes Ken and Nelson’s identities as Chinese Singaporeans, while tracing their lifelong pursuit of art and craft.
Lu Lingming, Yi Jina
Culture
[Video] Hsu Chung-mao: Why I am both Taiwanese and Chinese
Taiwanese historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao had a front-row seat to history as a war journalist, and became part of it himself when he was injured during the 1989 Tiananmen incident. Decades spent collecting and colourising rare photographs have shaped how he sees the past — and why he sees himself as both Taiwanese and Chinese. In a conversation with ThinkChina’s Charlene Chow, he reflects on history, identity and the twists of fate that have shaped his journey.
Charlene Chow
Society
[Video] Dear You: How grassroots authenticity wins over Chinese filmgoers
A small Chaoshan dialect film, made on a tight budget with no celebrities and minimal marketing, went on to gross over 1.6 billion RMB at the box office, outperforming a wave of expensive, star-studded blockbusters. Chinese audiences shared positive word-of-mouth on social media, describing it as a “slow-cooked” film that offers a sincere and understated portrayal of ordinary lives. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina explores the factors behind Dear You’s strong resonance with viewers.
Yi Jina
Economy
[Video] China tightens rules on money, data and talent going overseas
China’s new outbound investment rules place tighter oversight on money, technology, data and talent going overseas, formalising a series of cross-border controls introduced this year. ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming discusses why some Chinese fear the country is closing itself off from the world and how the changes might impact society.
Lu Lingming
Society
[Vox pop] Views of China and President Xi Jinping may be turning more positive
Based on soundings from our street interviews with people from different countries, perceptions of China seem rather positive, not only in terms of China’s economic power and high-tech manufacturing leap, but its leadership. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina speaks to the public to understand how views on China, its leadership and its global role are evolving — and what reservations remain.
Yi Jina
Latest Articles
Technology
Can AI’s sky-high valuations survive disclosure?
As AI giants rush to go public, investors will finally get the disclosures needed to test whether soaring valuations rest on durable business models — or simply another wave of market euphoria. Professor Lin William Cong explains what will separate hype from fundamentals.
Lin William Cong
Technology
Did DeepSeek’s leak hand the US an AI roadmap?
A leaked transcript of DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng’s investor meeting has exposed China’s AI industry’s chip constraints, US pressure and the growing geopolitical risks facing its tech leaders. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk reports.
China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao
Politics
Why China’s land routes may fail in a Taiwan crisis
China has built overland routes to reduce its reliance on vulnerable sea lanes. But lessons from Ukraine and Iran suggest cheap drones and long-range strikes could leave those lifelines exposed in a Taiwan crisis, says Italian commentator Emanuele Scimia.
Emanuele Scimia
Economy
Can China’s slowing economy sustain its tech ambitions?
China sees technological self-reliance as the key to future growth. But with a slowing economy, can Beijing sustain the investment needed to achieve its high-tech ambitions over the long term? Economist Min-Hua Chiang examines the issue.
Min-Hua Chiang
Society
[Video] Effortlessly beautiful: China’s new obsession with ‘invisible’ cosmetic procedures
Why are millions of Chinese paying for cosmetic procedures that nobody is supposed to notice? The pursuit of “natural beauty” is reshaping the country’s booming medical aesthetics industry. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina finds out more.
Yi Jina
Technology
China’s AI-driven robotics boom faces IPO reality check
China’s strides in “embodied AI” — the integration of artificial intelligence into physical systems like robots — is built on world-class manufacturing and bold investor bets. But with IPOs looming, startups must prove their robots can generate real commercial value — not just hype.
Caixin Global
Society
Why Beijing shelved its Taiwan war blockbuster
A lavish war epic about the Qing conquest of Taiwan was meant to be China’s next blockbuster. Instead, it vanished twice, raising questions about Beijing’s evolving Taiwan narrative and political messaging. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong explains.
Han Yong Hong
Politics
Why China rescued Vietnam’s ship in the South China Sea but targets the Philippines
China rescued a Vietnamese vessel in disputed waters even as maritime tensions with the Philippines flared. The contrast reveals Beijing’s South China Sea calculus. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei explains.
Sim Tze Wei
Politics
Has China really ‘won’ in the Iran war?
The Iran war has boosted China’s leverage in the energy sector and deepened its commercial presence in the Gulf. But states in the region want China to be a more proactive stakeholder, a role Beijing may not be ready to take on, says researcher Jing Lin.
Jing Lin
Technology
How China split Silicon Valley over AI
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang’s push for open-weight AI has generated fierce debate in Silicon Valley. Behind the divide lies China’s rapid AI advance, reshaping competition, security concerns and Washington’s AI strategy. Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu gives an analysis.
Yang Danxu
Technology
China’s DUV breakthrough: Has America’s tech wall outlived its purpose?
China’s reported breakthrough in producing domestic DUV lithography machines could mark a turning point in its chip war with the US, but experts warn that catching up with global leaders remains a long road. Lianhe Zaobao China news correspondent Edwin Ong reports.
Edwin Ong
Economy
Zero self-sufficient provinces: China’s new fiscal reality
Data shows no province in China was able to fully cover its own spending in the first quarter, highlighting growing dependence on central government transfers as tax revenues become increasingly concentrated in Beijing. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Chen Jing finds out more.
Chen Jing
Society
[Big read] Why Chinese gamers pay African youths to play for them
Chinese-run studios across Africa employ young workers to grind the game — do repetitive tasks to gain in-game currency — turning play into digital labour and exposing the opportunities and tensions behind the business. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting finds out more.
Lim Zhan Ting
Society
Dear You: A Chinese film revives Japan’s diasporic memory
The Chinese hit movie Dear You has struck a chord with overseas Chinese in Japan, whose own efforts to preserve their language and culture echo the film’s portrayal of diaspora life in Nanyang. Writer Foo Choo Wei finds out more.
Foo Choo Wei
Economy
How China’s traditional markets are reviving empty malls
Traditional rural-style markets are making a comeback in Chinese cities. Driven by empty commercial space and budget-conscious consumers, these periodic markets are redefining urban retail. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu looks into the matter.
Liu Liu