Lai Oi Lai
Taipei Correspondent, Lianhe ZaobaoArticles by Lai Oi Lai
Society
Powerless in the classroom: Why Taiwanese teachers are quitting
Schools are struggling to fill vacancies even as tens of thousands of qualified teachers remain outside the profession. Competition from the technology sector, mounting workplace pressures and fears of parental complaints are making teaching an increasingly difficult career to sell, notes Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lai Oi Lai.
Lai Oi Lai
14 Sep 2026
Politics
[Video] Unapologetic and undeterred: Cheng Li-wun’s fight to remake the KMT
In an exclusive interview, KMT chair Cheng Li-wun lays out her vision for easing cross-strait tensions and reshaping Taiwan’s largest opposition party. Unfazed by criticism and determined to speak her mind, she is taking on entrenched party interests while walking a precarious line between Beijing and Washington. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang and Taipei correspondent Lai Oi Lai find out.
Chuang Hui Liang, Lai Oi Lai
04 Sep 2026
Politics
Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te sends his first minister to APEC China: A thaw?
Taiwan’s labour minister will attend an APEC meeting in Nanjing this month, but the trip reflects a pragmatic approach to cross-strait engagement, not a breakthrough in ties. Lianhe Zaobao Taipei correspondent Lai Oi Lai speaks with academics to find out.
Lai Oi Lai
03 Sep 2026
Technology
[Big read] One Taiwan, two speeds: The winners and losers of the AI boom
Taiwan’s AI boom is driving record growth and stock market highs, but beneath the prosperity, widening inequality and geopolitical risks threaten its long-term advantage. Lianhe Zaobao Taipei correspondent Lai Oi Lai speaks with experts and people on the ground to find out.
Lai Oi Lai
15 Jul 2026
Society
[Big read] Too ‘cool’ to resist: China’s soft power captivates Taiwan’s youth
From TikTok trends to Chinese apps and pop culture, Beijing’s soft power is gaining traction among young Taiwanese, raising fresh questions over identity, influence and cross-strait competition. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lai Oi Lai and journalist Zhang Guanghui find out more.
Lai Oi Lai, Zhang Guanghui
01 Jul 2026
Society
[Big read] Singapore’s wealthy elites are transforming the philanthropy landscape
Although Asia is the world’s second-largest source of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), donations by Asia’s UHNWIs only account for 13% of the global share. This may be about to change, with the rise of family offices being set up in Singapore, and new modes of gifting that make it easier for donations of the wealthy to reach those in need here and in the region.
Lai Oi Lai
06 May 2024
Economy
[Big read] Global fight for lithium battery raw materials heats up
Amid the global electric vehicle (EV) race, European countries and the US are doubling down on their efforts and investment towards building an even more localised vertically integrated battery supply chain. This comes amid China dominance over the global lithium-ion battery supply chain. As the race for raw materials continues, Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Singapore can play an increasingly significant role. Lianhe Zaobao business correspondent Lai Oi Lai speaks with experts and business insiders to find out more.
Lai Oi Lai
12 Dec 2023
Economy
De-risking too: The world's efforts to de-dollarise
Despite all the talk of de-dollarisation and some movement towards it, the US dollar remains the dominant global currency for now, and it will be an uphill task to shift away from it. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lai Oi Lai speaks to academics and financial experts to find out more about the world's pursuit of de-dollarisation as a way of risk management.
Lai Oi Lai
19 Jun 2023
Economy
Wealthy Chinese setting up family offices in Singapore see it as springboard to ASEAN
In the first of a seven-part Lianhe Zaobao-Business Times series on China and ASEAN, Zaobao business correspondent Lai Oi Lai gives an update on the trend of high-net-worth Chinese investors coming to Singapore to set up family offices and invest in start-ups.
Lai Oi Lai
20 Jun 2022