China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

Lianhe Zaobao is a Chinese-language broadsheet published by Singapore Press Holdings. It was established in 1983, following the merger of Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Jit Poh, which were started in 1923 and 1929 respectively. It offers timely, credible news reports and a wealth of features, commentaries and opinion pieces. With a Singapore perspective, it also provides news and valuable insights on developments in East Asia, particularly China. In 1995, Lianhe Zaobao became the first Chinese-language newspaper in the world to go online with its portal zaobao.sg. The website has now grown into two sites — zaobao.com to cater to its readers in the greater China region, and zaobao.sg for readers in Singapore and elsewhere.

The paper has correspondents in Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul and Tokyo, and experienced stringers in the Philippines, Japan, Europe and the US. It is one of the few foreign-owned Chinese-language media that is accessible online in China. Zaobao.com has an average of 5 million unique visitors per month, and a monthly pageview count of 100 million in China. The print edition of Lianhe Zaobao is also circulated in Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Vietnam and major cities of China like Beijing and Shanghai.

Kathy Chow was known for her roles in broadcaster TVB’s television dramas in the 1980s and 1990s. (Internet)

Passing of Kathy Chow puts focus on the rise of people living alone in China

Several media reports of Hong Kong star Kathy Chow’s passing seemed to have highlighted the fact that she was living alone. Advertently, her death has sparked off discussions about the rise of Chinese living alone and the stigma and policy challenges behind the trend. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk examines the issue.
Cheng Yong was the largest shareholder of Changzhou Huali Hydraulic Lubrication Equipment Co Ltd. (Internet)

Death of a Chinese entrepreneur sparks controversy over discipline authorities’ methods

The death of a Chinese businessman who was under questioning by the discipline inspection commission has garnered widespread attention. The public is asking, why did the private entrepreneur kill himself? Did the questioning and authorities put too much pressure on him? Was his confession coerced? Lianhe Zaobao China Desk looks into the matter and how the incident will affect the private entrepreneur community.
(From left) Bi Huijun, Wei Qingtao and Liu Zhengqi in their confession videos. (Internet)

China's all-out effort to wipe out scam syndicate families in northern Myanmar

It seems that scam operators, not least the “four big families” of northern Myanmar or Kokang, are being put on notice in Northern Myanmar. Skirmishes between the Brotherhood Alliance armed forces and the junta are helping to ferret out these organisations. Given that Kokang borders China, the animosity between the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the junta government will test how China strikes a balance between them.
Controversy broke out over a primary school in China that required all students to wear helmets to and fro school. (Weibo)

Safety first: Why this Chinese school is asking all students to wear helmets to school

As schools are held liable when students get injured for whatever reason, some Chinese schools have taken to implementing measures such as making all students wear helmets to school — whether or not they ride scooters or motorcycles — and restricting their movements in between classes. What effect is this having on schools, parents and children? How much is too much?
An advertisement for the Singles' Day shopping event on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s Tmall e-commerce platform at a subway station in Shanghai, China, on 4 November 2023. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

Singles’ Day sales losing their shine in China: How long can e-commerce platforms keep reducing prices?

With the annual Singles’ Day sale coming around again, e-commerce platforms are once again preparing to fight for a slice of the consumer market, not just among themselves but now also with physical stores joining the mix. But as consumers become more prudent in their spending and less inclined to navigate complicated terms and conditions for discounts, what can e-commerce platforms do to survive?
Visitors look at festive installations for Chinese New Year in Shanghai, China, on 2 February 2022. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

In China, no break on Chinese New Year’s Eve next year

Employees in China have little annual leave to begin with — what happens when the Chinese authorities announce that Chinese New Year’s Eve will not be a holiday in 2024?
This handout photograph taken on 11 October 2023 and released by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade shows Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong (left) and Australian journalist Cheng Lei upon her arrival at the airport in Melbourne, Australia. (Sarah Hodges/Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)/AFP)

China-Australia relations warm up again, but will it last?

The recent release of Chinese Australian news anchor Cheng Lei and the lifting of tariffs on key Australian exports into China are signalling a detente in China-Australia relations. But given the impact of external geopolitical issues and China-US relations on China-Australia bilateral relations, will the warming relations and resumption of exchanges and trade stay the course? Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk looks into the issue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, on 18 October 2023. (Sputnik/Sergei Guneev/Pool via Reuters)

Russia’s reliance on China is growing, but will China benefit?

The outside world predicts that China and Russia are set to demonstrate a “no limits” relationship and join hands to counteract the US and its Western alliance. However, China seems to be gaining dominance in China-Russia relations as Moscow is trying to strengthen its already deep economic, military and energy cooperation with Beijing. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk and journalist Miao Zong-Han tell us more.
In March this year, a girl with the handle Arctic Catfish posted on Weibo boasting of her family’s wealth and her grandfather, a former director of a government agency. (Internet)

Descendants of China’s officials unlikely anti-corruption allies?

In China's anti-corruption efforts, one group of unlikely "allies" has emerged — the descendants of Chinese officials. These young people flaunt their family's wealth on social media, often prompting investigations that usually uncover confirmed corruption. But while this self-sabotage does work, systemic efforts are what is needed.