Society

A woman walks along a street with two children in Beijing, China, on 3 February 2023. (Jade Gao/AFP)

It's not just China: Asia faces a shrinking population

Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Peter Ong looks into why Asian countries are facing a declining population, especially those that have witnessed successful economic transformation. What social conditions have led to the staggeringly low birth rates? And is migration a solution?
Everything is a blur and makes no sense... (Photo: Candice Chan)

When these eyes of mine can no longer read

Hua Language Centre director Chew Wee Kai ruminates on ageing and what goes on inside and out as one inevitably moves into the twilight of life, not least the obvious signs of failing eyesight. Where once it was a joy to read The Water Margin and The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, now the spirit is willing but the eyes are weak.
Demonstrators gather outside Zhongshan park to protest changes to medical benefits in Wuhan, China, 15 February 2023 in this still image from social media video obtained by Reuters. (Social media/Reuters)

China’s silent healthcare insurance reform triggers protests among elderly

Recent changes to China’s medical insurance system have received backlash from its elderly population, who fear that their reduced incomes and increased medical expenses will make healthcare unaffordable for them. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing looks at how the reforms will be implemented and their impact on the people.
​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.
Commuters at a subway station in Beijing, China, on 15 February 2023. (Bloomberg)

China’s youths are feeling the pressure from low wages

AVIC Fund deputy general manager Deng Haiqing recently drew flak for his view that young people should not complain about their low wages because they lack capabilities. Meanwhile, netizens derided him for being a privileged elite that is far removed from the reality of life in China today. Zaobao’s China Desk explores the topic.
This photo taken on 7 January 2023 shows a man guiding goats in a rural area in Tai'an, China's eastern Shandong province. (Noel Celis/AFP)

The complex economics behind gifting in rural China

A common practice in rural China is to give monetary gifts during important occasions, be it weddings or funerals. These gifts can drain a sizeable part of a person’s income, and deciding on the amount to give is an art in itself. Economics professor Zhang Rui tells us more about this longstanding tradition.
Young people in New Taipei City on 27 January 2023. (Sam Yeh/AFP)

Tackling the growing income gap in Taiwan

Veteran journalist Gu Erde looks at the impact of Taiwan's widening income gap, especially on the youth. Is the government doing enough to strengthen the social security network and protect people's livelihoods?
A man and a child walk past a display for Full River Red in a cinema in Fuzhou, 25 January 2023. (CNS)

Chinese films hit it big during CNY, but is it enough to save the industry?

The Chinese film industry has released several blockbusters over the Chinese New Year period, and crowds have also returned to cinemas. However, the off-screen drama seems to be more interesting than the movies themselves, with claims of various forms of dishonest or misleading figures for ticket sales, complete with lawsuits and competition for audiences.
For mainland youth, the world could be their oyster in Hong Kong​. Scene at a promenade next to Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, China, on 20 November 2022. (Bertha Wang/AFP)

Mainland youth: Hong Kong a reassuring place with good opportunities

Hong Konger freelance writer Thomas Chan speaks with young mainland Chinese who have chosen to seek their futures in Hong Kong. Aside from push factors from the mainland or the West, many of them think Hong Kong has positive attributes of its own that makes it an appealing choice.