Politics

China and Israel share a special relationship that goes back in history and is grounded in modern economic and social needs, but the US has both explicit and implicit concerns about growing China-Israel relations. Political scientist Zhu Zhiqun illuminates how Israel walks the tightrope of advancing relations with both China and the US amidst intense rivalry between the two major powers.

The China-US trade war continues, seemingly with no end in sight. Adding to the unpredictability of trade talks are unexpected black swans, or complicating factors. Professor Zhu Ying of Shanghai Normal University examines these black swans and the way they have affected trade talks.

Labelled a “criminal and lie-fabricator” by Chinese officials, detained Causeway Bay bookseller Gui Minhai was awarded Svenska PEN’s Tucholsky Prize last week. The prize presentation renews controversy over freedom and democracy in China and casts a pall on China-Sweden relations.

Weekday or weekend, Hong Kong has become a battleground with universities — erstwhile symbols of civility — turning into base camps and refuel stations. What is happening to the Hong Kong as we know it?

As the Taiwan election approaches, incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen has managed to improve her standing with voters, amid a challenge from Kuomintang candidate Han Kuo-yu. However, one of the issues that Ms Tsai has to address is cross-strait ties with mainland China. How will Ms Tsai show goodwill towards the mainland, while keeping the people of Taiwan happy?

Despite synergies between Japan and China in the economic and technological spheres, Professor Shin Kawashima, University of Tokyo, argues that the hard line China maintains on security and historical issues will keep ties from warming.

Rather than an endgame, Simon Shen sees the current protests as part of a long game. Factors such as the milieu of the internet age and a growing Hong Kong identity will keep the die of Hong Kong’s future from being cast just yet.

The conflation of gay rights, Taiwan’s independence and anti-nuclear issues can be a recipe for deepening fissures in society. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Ng Soon Kiat opines that progressive values that are linked together by an election can be held hostage by politicians and political ideologies, and lose their rationality and true meanings.

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing spoke on the digital economy, China's connectivity, and the role of China and Singapore in this moment in history, at the Singapore-China Forum which was held in Shanghai on 6 November 2019. The forum was organised by Lianhe Zaobao and The Paper, a Shanghai media. The forum is one of the events held during the China International Import Expo (CIIE). ThinkChina presents Mr Chan's speech.