Han Yong Hong

Associate Editor, Zaobao; Editor, Zaobao.com

Yong Hong is an associate editor of Zaobao and the editor of Zaobao.com. She joined Lianhe Zaobao as a journalist in 2000, covering theatre, music and visual arts. In 2005, she was assigned to the Beijing bureau as a correspondent, and became the chief correspondent in 2009. She received the Business China Young Achiever Award in 2011, making her the second recipient of this award, and the first journalist to receive this recognition.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou sits down with Straits Times senior regional correspondent Li Xueying for an exclusive interview at the Presidential Palace in Taipei, Taiwan, in April 2016, a month before he steps down as Taiwan president. (Taiwan Office of the President)

Political significance of former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s China visit

Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes that while former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s planned visit to several cities in mainland China is deemed an ancestral visit and to lead student exchanges, its political implications cannot be ignored. The trip could be a win for himself and both sides of the Taiwan Strait as the parties involved continue to push for cooperation and peaceful exchanges.
People walk past shops in a hutong alley in Beijing, China, 31 December 2022. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

What has changed in Beijing post-pandemic?

Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong shares her observations of a post-pandemic Beijing, noting the subtle differences in consumer habits and the people’s reluctance to talk about politics. How will China continue to change on its path of 'China-style modernisation'?
A screen shows Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking during the closing session of the First Session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on 13 March 2023. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

China's entry into the Middle East: Beginning of China-US full-scale confrontation

A clear theme throughout China’s Two Sessions this year has been its resistance to the US’s attempts at suppression and containment. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes that while China’s rhetoric against the US has gotten stronger, it has actively shown itself to be a major global player, even in the Middle East.
Commuters at a subway station in Beijing, China, on 6 March 2023. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

China cutting financial regulators' pay in push for common prosperity

One highlight of the recent report from China’s Two Sessions is the proposed reforms to the financial regulatory system. Among the changes is to place regulators under the civil service system, which would mean salary cuts of 50% or more, along with stricter regulations on staff resignations. Will China's reforms for common prosperity work?
A woman walks past a billboard showing Chinese President Xi Jinping with a slogan which reads "Remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind" in Beijing on 28 February 2023. (Jade Gao/AFP)

Possible reforms to security agencies expose CCP's anxiety over external and internal risks

The 20th Party Congress set the direction for the Chinese Communist Party, but it is the upcoming Two Sessions that measures will be discussed and put into action. The highlight is the likely reforms to national security agencies, as well as finance and other sectors.
A bed is pictured in a house destroyed during the months of Russian occupation in the village of Posad-Pokrovske, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, northwest of the city of Kherson, Ukraine, 30 January 2023. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

China’s 'Russia-Ukraine war dilemma' is heightening risk of conflict in Taiwan Strait

As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, Zaobao’s associate editor Han Yong Hong takes a look at the impact of the conflict on Asia, including in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing’s response will be crucial.
​A couple taking photos with an installation of flowers at a shopping mall during Valentine's Day in Yantai in China's eastern Shandong province on 14 February 2022. (AFP)

Good signs for China’s economic recovery as spending booms for Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day just over, The Economist’s tongue-in-cheek Cost of Loving Index reflects the high cost of living in Chinese cities compared with global cities such as New York and Paris. Zaobao’s associate editor Han Yong Hong looks deeper into the spending habits of the Chinese and what it might mean for economic recovery.
Security and military officials arrive for a closed-door briefing for senators about the Chinese spy balloon at the US Capitol, 9 February 2023 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/AFP)

Is the US in hysterics over a Chinese balloon?

Zaobao’s associate editor Han Yong Hong notes that amid the US’s strong response to the recent incident of a Chinese balloon intruding into US airspace, there are other more pressing issues at hand, whereby the US and China need to communicate and cooperate. Both sides will need to keep their focus and work out their priorities.
People visit a traditional Spring Festival flower market in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, on 20 January 2023. (AFP)

China and the world renew economic ties post-pandemic

As economic activities pick up in China after the country lifted its strict Covid-19 control measures, foreign businesses are raring to return to the world’s second-largest economy. However, they remain hesitant due to the long time away and geopolitical considerations. Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong finds out if China can easily rebuild its economic ties with foreign businesses and the outside world.