Xi Jinping's conundrum fixing the Chinese economy

Japanese academic Toshiya Tsugami notes that even as China's economy is facing a difficult time, the Chinese government's efforts to prevent the bubble from bursting might in fact be having the opposite effect in the long run, and the more important thing is to fix structural problems.

Xi-Ma meeting: Can Chinese ethnic sentiments bridge the gap between Taiwan and the mainland?

As an advocate of the 1992 Consensus, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has always been in support of “one China, different interpretations”. However, during his recent trip to mainland China, he continually emphasised the common Chinese ethnicity, perhaps to rouse China’s sentiments.
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Jack Ma's reappearance energises Chinese internet and investors: Will Alibaba rise again?

Jack Ma recently sent out an internal memo, affirming Alibaba’s reforms and organisational restructuring, stating that the company has returned to a healthy growth track. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Ma, having returned from obscurity, is once again deeply involved in strategic decisions. Will this be Alibaba’s foray back to the top? Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk tells us more.

[Video] China's brewing coffee culture

From diverse specialty blends to a new university programme in Coffee Science and burgeoning cafe scenes across the country, coffee has evolved from an exotic import to an integral part of China's food and beverage culture. With a penchant for ambience and novelty, coffee aficionados in China are reshaping the nation's coffee scene.
 
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[Photo story] How earthquakes have shaped Taiwan's collective psyche

The earthquake that hit Hualien in Taiwan on 3 April 2024 is just the latest in a long list of earthquakes in Taiwan’s history, for example the 921 earthquake of 1999 and the earthquake of 1935 that hit Taichung. How have these earthquakes affected the people of Taiwan and shaped their psyche through the ages? Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao provides some insight.

China-US competition: Managing bottom lines for a win-win situation

Academic Fei-Ling Wang says that the competition between China and the US could become a non-zero-sum game that is mutually beneficial to the two sides and even to the world. This would depend on how the countries uphold their worldview, outlook on life and values and are able to "live and let live".

Would Marcos’s dialogue promises bring peace and stability to the South China Sea?

The joint military exercises that the Philippines has conducted with the US and its allies have not only failed to decrease China’s “offensives” but also incited its “aggressiveness”, says Chinese academic Peng Nian.

From Pakistan to Afghanistan, China grappling with rising terrorist threats

Academic Alessandro Arduino observes that the spike in violence along the route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project is reviving concerns about the "three evils" — terrorism, separatism and extremism — which China, Russia and the Central Asian republics have feared since the inception of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Apple's bid to pull off a rebound in the Chinese market

Chinese consumer interest in Apple iPhones is waning as competitors eat away at its market share. Analysts also believe that the lack of innovation in the new releases has led to declining sales. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers remain an important part of the production of Apple products, with no viable replacement in sight. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Daryl Lim speaks with experts and academics to find out more about Apple’s place in China.

‘Granny Wang’s Matchmaking’: A large-scale dating arena for China's youths?

With young people in China seemingly less willing to date and get married, Granny Wang’s Matchmaking event in Henan province is proving to be surprisingly popular. Will such live events catch on more and spur young people to consider marriage?

Will the Confucian religion develop further in Indonesia?

The quiet support of the current administration for the tiny minority of Confucianists in Indonesia, who are mostly ethnic Chinese Indonesians, could speak volumes about not just religious but more worldly concerns.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s China visit yields some results

Despite heightened tension between China and the US, the two sides are maintaining communications at all levels. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan notes that as long as the two countries remain in contact, the situation will not turn for the worse or spin out of control.

Japanese academic: Taiwan needs to step up security on Kinmen and Matsu

Japanese academic Rira Momma analyses China’s tactics in the Kinmen fishing boat incidents and how Taiwan may need to enhance its vigilance on the security of its remote islands.

Why China's debt-ridden local governments left trillions of special bond proceeds unused

PIIE researcher Tianlei Huang explains how local governments did not make the best of the local special bond programme, a major instrument of fiscal stimulus after the pandemic in 2020. He considers if the programme needs to be downsized, and resources possibly channelled to other areas such as building human capital.

Correspondent in Taiwan: Hualien after the earthquake

Following an earthquake that hit the coast of Hualien in Taiwan, the authorities are moving to rebuild infrastructure and facilities, so that residents can return to their lives as soon as possible. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Woon Wei Jong reports.

Navigating China’s influence: Insights from the State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey

Southeast Asians recognise China’s burgeoning influence in the region, but there are nuances to the geopolitical dynamics. The region needs to manage its relationship with the rising global power; China needs to address the lack of confidence that it will "do the right thing”.
 
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