Society

A group photo at the 16th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) in Bangkok, Thailand. (Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry)

China's growing influence on overseas Chinese businessmen: Reflections on the 16th WCEC in Bangkok

Lee Huay Leng, editor-in-chief of SPH’s Chinese Media Group, notes that she seems to have witnessed a shift in focus while attending the recent World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention in Bangkok — while earlier editions were targeted at bringing together ethnic Chinese businessmen scattered around the world, a changed world seems to have made the latest edition more China-centric, and it remains to be seen whether this will hold for future editions.
Tenants living in Baimang started getting eviction notices in mid-May.

Why Shenzhen's plan to transform 'urban villages' is causing distress

Urban villages are a historical product of Shenzhen’s urbanisation process. Today, local governments may have good intentions in implementing “centralised leasing” (统租) and upgrading work, but existing tenants may feel they are being shortchanged. Daryl Lim looks into the matter.
Graduates of Wuhan University attend the graduation ceremony in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province on 20 June 2023. (AFP)

China's youth unemployment situation could be far worse

The current environment in China is far from conducive for university students to find a job, much less one that matches what they studied. Even if their finances allow and they embark on postgraduate studies, their employment prospects may not always improve when they finally enter the job market. It is not even a question of dropping one’s ego and accepting any job that comes along; structural challenges with the employment market may necessitate making hard decisions and exercising a lot of patience.
Young people looking at gold jewellery in Shuibei, Shenzhen, 18 June 2023. (SPH Media)

China’s young people becoming biggest consumers of gold

Young people are becoming the biggest consumers of gold in China, from jewellery to beads. They see it as a form of investment and savings, amid uncertainty about the economy. Zaobao journalist Daryl Lim looks into the trend.
Taiwanese host Mickey Huang is facing sexual assault allegations amid a #MeToo wave sweeping across Taiwan. (CNS)

#MeToo in Taiwan: Why public opinion matters

While it is easy for public commentators to lash out at perpetrators and victims alike in #MeToo cases, the psychological factors behind each case are complex. Would angry bashing tamp down our empathy for the afflicted in rooting out the underlaying issues behind sexual assault?
People walk past the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei on 28 April 2023. (Sam Yeh/AFP)

Taiwan's #MeToo: A progressive Taiwanese society's attempt at challenging patriarchy

Commentator Gu Erde notes the recent spate of allegations of sexual offences against notable figures in Taiwan, most prominently from within the Democratic Progressive Party itself. This has put the ruling party in the eye of the #MeToo storm, with victims coming forward to speak out. What does this furore say about patriarchal chauvinism in Taiwan’s wider society and culture?
Reporters, journalists and cameramen wait outside the Duomo cathedral in Milan on 14 June 2023 ahead of the state funeral for Italy's former prime minister and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi. (Piero Cruciatti/AFP)

Can we still trust the media amid falling media credibility?

Do people still read, watch and listen to the news today? Second, is the media, especially the traditional media, still credible? Answering these questions will lead us to the answer as to whether it matters if journalists will be replaced with the dawn of generative AI.
A man was falsely accused of voyeurism on the Guangzhou subway. (iStock)

Trial by Weibo: A young woman accuses a middle-aged man of voyeurism

Is being “sentenced to death” by online public trial going too far? What recourse is there when accusations are made that turn out to be false? Zaobao’s China Desk looks into the Chinese phenomenon of going public with perceived injustices.
People make their way around Times Square amid smoke from Canada wildfires on 7 June 2023 in New York City. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images/AFP)

Shedding the passive image: Ethnic Chinese need to step up in US society

Asians are generally known to be humble, tend to keep a low profile, and not strive for leadership positions. However, US academic Wu Guo argues that perhaps it is time for ethnic Chinese to take a leaf from white Americans’ book and learn to be confident enough to step up.