Society
Despite the ambitions of Chinese President Xi Jinping for China to be in the World Cup, China has only qualified for the finals once before, and will not feature in this year’s edition — except in supporting roles. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei notes that football is a grassroots activity and can only thrive if allowed to grow organically.
Sim Tze Wei
11 Jun 2026
Society
[Vox pop] Views of China and President Xi Jinping may be turning more positive
Based on soundings from our street interviews with people from different countries, perceptions of China seem rather positive, not only in terms of China’s economic power and high-tech manufacturing leap, but its leadership. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina speaks to the public to understand how views on China, its leadership and its global role are evolving — and what reservations remain.
Yi Jina
05 Jun 2026
Society
Complaints against teachers in China: How much is too much?
A recent case where a Fudan University associate professor was accused of being unprofessional has thrown the spotlight on the larger issue of complaints — founded and unfounded — against teachers in China. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Chen Jing gives her take and explores where to draw the line.
Chen Jing
04 Jun 2026
Society
[Big read] Why Malaysian youths are choosing mainland China over Taiwan for degrees
For generations, a Taiwan degree meant upward mobility for Malaysian Chinese. Today, a rising China and evolving local options are changing where students choose to carve out their futures. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tan Jet Min reports.
Tan Jet Min
03 Jun 2026
Society
Midas touch of Lin Xiang Xiong: Mining gold with one hand, creating art with the other
From scavenging for food in China to helming a gold mining empire in Malaysia, Lin Xiang Xiong’s life is a masterclass in resilience. The gold miner-cum-artist speaks with Lianhe Zaobao senior correspondent Chew Boon Leong about how his accidental foray into gold mining has fuelled his true calling: a global crusade for peace through art.
Chew Boon Leong
28 May 2026
Society
[Big read] The northbound drift: Hong Kong’s quiet exodus to the Greater Bay Area
The cost of living in Hong Kong is notoriously high, and some Hong Kongers are choosing to move to cities in the Greater Bay Area in mainland China to live and work, in pursuit of a more manageable pace and quality of life. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing finds out more.
Tai Hing Shing
19 May 2026
Society
[Big read] Banned or not, Taiwanese keep heading to mainland China anyway
Despite restrictions on group tours, Taiwanese continue travelling to mainland China in growing numbers, driven by demand, rising costs at home and expanding unofficial travel channels. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang reports from Taipei.
Chuang Hui Liang
15 May 2026
Society
How Peking duck went from imperial Beijing to Singapore’s kopitiams
Once a delicacy savoured at imperial banquets, Peking duck has shed its exclusivity and reinvented itself for the masses — evolving in style, price and ritual as it finds an unexpected new home in the heartlands. Lianhe Zaobao lifestyle correspondent Tang Ai Wei finds out more.
Tang Ai Wei
15 May 2026
Society
China’s political debate finds a new home on YouTube
China’s political debate finds a new home on YouTube, where overseas-based commentators build a parallel public sphere still widely accessed in China via VPN, even as some voices remain on the ground. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Guanghui explores the shift.
Zhang Guanghui
12 May 2026
Society
[Vox pop] How do Chinese people see AI?
In recent years, China has become one of the fastest-moving players in the global AI race. AI is now becoming part of everyday life for many Chinese people. And now, amid the sweeping changes triggered by this technological wave, ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming and Yi Jina speak with some Chinese to hear what they really think about AI today.
Lu Lingming, Yi Jina
08 May 2026
Society
[Video] Lim Siong Guan: Can Singapore survive?
Singapore’s rise from “unwanted independence” to a trusted global brand was no accident. Former head of the civil service Lim Siong Guan reflects on working with Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee in an interview with ThinkChina’s James Loo, and explains why small states must think long term in a world of unknown unknowns, as well as how culture, trust and a stellar civil service matter more than ever as Singapore navigates great power rivalry and rapid technological change.
James Loo
30 Apr 2026
Society
From Chinatown zoo to crocodile oil legacy: The strange history of Chop Wah On
From a shop in Singapore’s Chinatown, a homegrown brand with over 100 years of history steadily sells its products to locals and tourists alike. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Lilia Yeo speaks to the third-generation owners and discovers the rich heritage of this store that began by selling medicated oils.
Lilia Yeo
30 Apr 2026
