Society
From catching caterpillars to riding slow trains, Chinese youths are pursuing joy from the little things in life. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk looks at the rise of youths shunning ambition and excess spending, and “just getting on with life”.
China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao
16 Oct 2026
Society
[Big read] Hong Kong wants more babies, but couples need more than cash grants
Standalone cash grants are failing to revive Hong Kong’s birth rate. As officials look to Singapore for inspiration, young couples say deeper structural relief is needed. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Tai Hing Shing looks at why the city’s birth rate is so hard to lift.
Tai Hing Shing
15 Oct 2026
Society
Huawei’s ‘brake-gate’: Is patriotism drowning out rational debate in China?
When Huawei’s luxury EV failed a third-party safety test, a technical flaw spiralled into nationalistic fervor. Can Chinese public discourse mature to separate corporate accountability from patriotic sentiment? Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu gives her take on the issue.
Yang Danxu
14 Oct 2026
Society
Distrusting Beijing, encountering ‘everyday China’ in the Philippines
Younger Filipinos seem to have more nuanced attitudes towards China and encounter its soft power in different ways than their parents’ generation, but this does not mean a sea change has occurred. Academic Jan Robert R Go gives his analysis.
Jan Robert R Go
13 Oct 2026
Society
[Video] This PhD dropout exposes China’s academic fraud — can he change the system?
Online exposés by Student Geng, a PhD dropout-turned-influencer, have led to the downfall of top Chinese researchers and the largest academic misconduct investigation to date. ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming and Yi Jina find out what is fuelling the problem.
Lu Lingming, Yi Jina
09 Oct 2026
Society
In Singapore, a woman knew her harasser. In China, 20 women never met theirs
Who should stop an online crowd? Singapore’s new Online Safety Commission helps victims get harmful posts taken down and find out who harmed them. China’s draft Anti-Cyberviolence Law would make platforms slow a crowd turning on someone before anyone complains. Victims need both, argues academic Ashton Ng. Platforms see the crowd first and should act first. But the crowd is made of individuals, and each of us can refuse to join it.
Ashton Ng
02 Oct 2026
Society
China’s new graduates get hired, then cut loose
China’s new graduates are finding that landing a first job is no longer the end of the struggle. Offers are being withdrawn, probationary hires cut and entry-level roles squeezed by AI, leaving young workers searching for a foothold in an increasingly uncertain market.
Caixin Global
02 Oct 2026
Society
[Big read] How China’s pyramid schemes used ‘state secrets’ to lure victims
China’s pyramid schemes have abandoned centralised communes to recruit via social media, romance-baiting and promises of quick wealth. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei examines how state rhetoric is weaponised to keep victims in the dark.
Sim Tze Wei
30 Sep 2026
Society
Chinese TV producers rewrite the script for global streaming
Chinese TV dramas are shattering Netflix records and demanding record fees, with producers pivoting to high-margin global remakes and direct streaming deals to escape a brutal domestic slump and claim mainstream international dominance.
Caixin Global
25 Sep 2026
Society
When Chinese government accounts learn to meme — and face the risks
Chinese government new-media accounts are shedding bureaucratic language to connect with younger audiences, using cheeky headlines, memes and more. However, balancing personality, popularity and public responsibility is no easy feat. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu finds out more.
Liu Liu
24 Sep 2026
Society
[Vox pop] Why ‘light medical aesthetics’ are going mainstream in China
Cheaper and safer than plastic surgery, light medical aesthetics are increasingly accepted in China by women and men alike, reflecting a shared desire for subtle enhancement. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina finds out more.
Yi Jina
23 Sep 2026
Society
[Big read] The deadly climate blind spots fracturing China’s illusion of control
Extreme weather in China is growing more frequent and destructive, exposing weaknesses in how vital information travels to the top and the public. Can warnings and the truth arrive in time? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Guanghui finds out.
Zhang Guanghui
23 Sep 2026
Society
China’s catch-all border laws: A deterrent or cause for unnecessary anxiety?
China’s new border rules aim to deter cross-border crimes. But vague wording and stricter border checks are sparking widespread anxiety among everyday travellers. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Chen Jing explains the ambiguity fuelling public concern.
Chen Jing
22 Sep 2026
