Chip Tsao
ColumnistArticles by Chip Tsao
Politics
History won’t wait — Trump is at the door
In the Year of the Horse, US President Donald Trump has charged in first to occupy Venezuela — although whether he’s mounted a noble steed or a stubborn donkey remains an open question. Hong Kong commentator Chip Tsao takes a satirical look at what Venezuela’s upheaval reveals about China, imperial ambition and the world ahead.
Chip Tsao
07 Jan 2026
Politics
Cambodia’s scars: Xi’s visit stirs Khmer Rouge memories
It seems as though everyone has forgotten about Cambodia’s past, from its rich pre-communist history to the bloody Khmer Rouge period, laments conservative Hong Kong commentator Chip Tsao. He tells us why it is important to remember the history of Cambodia.
Chip Tsao
30 Apr 2025
Politics
Why Trump’s grand strategy is morally right
US President Donald Trump’s ambition to bring semiconductor and smartphone manufacturing back to the US is not just about liberating America and grounding Americans in real work — it is also an attempt to liberate the bottom-rung sweatshop labourers in China, says Hong Kong commentator Chip Tsao in his usual satirical style.
Chip Tsao
16 Apr 2025
Politics
Between dignity and survival: Can Zelenskyy secure Ukraine’s future?
Did Zelenskyy make a fatal miscalculation when he engaged US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance in a dramatic showdown last week? According to commentator Chip Tsao, Zelenskyy mishandled the situation, which could further weaken Ukraine’s position vis-a-vis the US.
Chip Tsao
04 Mar 2025
Society
Irreconcilable generational conflict is the new struggle of humanity
The pandemic has changed the world, not least in disrupting the lives of young people stuck at home from school, where they not only gain knowledge but also practise the norms of social behaviour. Now that they are back in school, these children who lack social experiences are acting up by engaging in disruptive behaviour in class. Commentator Chip Tsao feels that there is no way back as the gap between the generations widens.
Chip Tsao
18 Oct 2023
History
Why Peter the Great and Emperor Kangxi failed the modernisation test
Commentator Chip Tsao notes that Russia's Peter the Great and China's Emperor Kangxi each wanted to make their countries strong but their efforts fell short. Freedom and democracy were unfamiliar concepts for the Chinese people, while the idea of a social contract did not take root in Russia. In the 21st century, both countries still have to threaten war to prove their greatness.
Chip Tsao
09 Oct 2023
Society
Have Hong Kong migrants in the UK never left Hong Kong?
Over the past couple of years, there has been an influx of migrants from Hong Kong to the UK. Communities have been forming in various cities, such as London and Manchester. And as Hong Kongers find jobs and settle in, the British way of life rubs off on them. But underneath all that, they remain Hong Kongers at heart.
Chip Tsao
30 Jun 2022
Politics
Can John Lee be that all-round leader that Hong Kong needs?
Former police officer John Lee has stepped down as chief secretary for administration to run for Hong Kong chief executive after Carrie Lam announced that she will not be running for a second term. As the only candidate approved by Beijing, can Lee live up to the central government's expectations, as well as those of the Hong Kong people? Commentator Chip Tsao ponders Hong Kong's future.
Chip Tsao
14 Apr 2022
Society
The helpless fate of seven million Hong Kongers fighting the pandemic
While the "dynamic zero-Covid" policy may be effective in mainland China, the recent surge in cases in Hong Kong shows that the policy has its limitations, and it does not help that pandemic measures are being politicised. With more than 55,000 new cases reported on 2 March and panic buying amid the possibility of a lockdown, veteran Hong Kong commentator Chip Tsao discusses how Hong Kong is caught in a tricky place between Beijing and the rest of the world in terms of which strategy to take.
Chip Tsao
02 Mar 2022