Economy
In the wake of Trump’s recent visit to China, his comment on China’s beauty prompts a look at the Beautiful China initiative, referring to its efforts aimed at preserving and improving China’s ecological assets. EAI deputy director Chen Gang explores the issue.
Chen Gang
Economy
Deflation: Beijing’s blind spot or its strategy?
China’s deflation reflects both weak demand and deliberate industrial strategy. But the model depends on consumption eventually catching up, raising questions over sustainability and regional spillovers for Southeast Asia. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
Economy
Beijing’s new red line: Offshore firms can’t ‘de-China’
Chinese regulators are aggressively expanding its oversight on Chinese companies, moving beyond capital controls to prevent technology, data and talent from fleeing overseas. By scrutinising offshore “red-chip” structures and blocking high-profile acquisitions like Meta’s bid for Manus, authorities are signalling that corporate re-domiciliation can no longer bypass China’s tightening national security and tax net. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Sha explains.
Liu Sha
Economy
AI drives markets as valuations race ahead of earnings
From Wall Street to Shanghai, stock markets are hitting record highs as investors crowd into a narrowband of AI and semiconductor giants, turning the rally into a concentrated surge rather than a broad advance. But with gains increasingly reliant on a handful of megacap companies, is the AI boom an overstretched bubble?
Caixin Global
Economy
[Big read] From spare parts to world champions: China’s motorcycle shock rise
Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO’s win in the World Superbike Championship has captured international attention towards China’s “Motorcycle Capital” Chongqing. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu speaks with motorcycle enthusiasts and industry insiders to trace the industry’s breakthrough, growth and trajectory.
Liu Liu
Economy
Is the Iran war weakening the dollar’s grip and lifting the RMB?
Geopolitical shocks from the Iran conflict are straining dollar dominance, as Gulf states explore swap lines and oil trade shifts toward alternative currencies, including the RMB. But questions remain over whether China’s currency is ready for a bigger global role. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei dives in.
Sim Tze Wei
Economy
Will China’s drone crackdown stall the low-altitude economy?
China has tightened regulations on drones, leading to a decline in sales. However, Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu finds out from drone enthusiasts and industry experts that while the consumer market may be affected in the short term, the low-altitude economy is slated for growth in the long run.
Liu Liu
Economy
From Malacca to Taiwan: China’s chokepoint problem
Asia’s trade flows through a handful of narrow straits. From Malacca to Taiwan, rising geopolitical tensions and security risks are exposing China’s deep dependence on fragile maritime chokepoints, says academic Jasper Verschuur.
Jasper Verschuur
Economy
PwC’s Evergrande crisis deepens with record Hong Kong settlement and criminal probes
Evergrande’s fraud has caught up with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong, bringing major fines, client exits and criminal probes, and casting doubt over the accounting giant’s future in Hong Kong and mainland China.
Caixin Global
Economy
[Big read] Pinglu Canal: Redrawing China-ASEAN trade routes
The Guangxi’s Pinglu Canal, hailed as the “project of the century”, is expected to open in September, adding a major artery to the region’s access to the sea and seen as a key to unlocking Guangxi’s development. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting finds out from traders, shipping operators and local residents their expectations from the improved connectivity.
Lim Zhan Ting
Economy
How caviar became China’s most unexpected success story
China’s culinary tradition prized technique over luxury ingredients. Now, rising affluence and innovation are changing that — turning caviar and other premium foods into symbols of status and engines of growth. Economist Li Jingkui looks at how high-end ingredients can play a part in boosting the economy.
Li Jingkui
