Agriculture
Economy
Who governs food security now? Why Beijing’s answer matters most
Global food governance is increasingly dispersed across overlapping institutions and frameworks. Few countries are better positioned than China to bridge them, but whether Beijing chooses to do so remains the defining question, says researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
10 Jul 2026
Economy
High-tech farming cannot rescue China’s smallholders
China has grand plans for innovation-driven productivity in the agricultural sector, but how will these initiatives trickle down to the regions and the large proportion of smallholder farmers? Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May discusses the issue.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
26 Jun 2026
Economy
From HK department store heir to outback cattleman: Inside Bruce Cheung’s US$130m wagyu gamble
When he was nearing 60, Bruce Cheung stepped away from China International Duty Free Group, the company he had co-founded and built up for more than 20 years, starting a journey of self-discovery that took him along half of Australia’s coast. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Li Yaning speaks to the founder of agriculture company Pardoo Wagyu.
Li Yaning
18 Jun 2026
Economy
China’s seed war for food security and supply chains
China is turning seeds into a strategic frontier — balancing domestic food security needs with global ambitions in agricultural supply chains, biotech dominance and the geopolitics of food production. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
27 Apr 2026
Society
[Big read] China’s rural officials are performing for attention online, with Xi’s blessing
China’s village officials are turning to livestreams, dances and short-form videos to sell rural products and boost local economies, citing President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on e-commerce to justify the shift, though it sits uneasily with expectations that officials keep a low profile. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Guanghui reports.
Zhang Guanghui
24 Apr 2026
Politics
China holds the cards: Fertiliser, fuel and the Middle East crisis
As the war in the Middle East continues, China finds itself at an advantage in terms of fertilisers and fuels, and it is up to China to decide what to do with these trump cards. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei looks at the factors at play.
Sim Tze Wei
09 Apr 2026
Economy
How agriculture anchors Vietnam-China ties
While Vietnam-China agricultural trade has shown great potential, buttressed by regional economic frameworks, issues such as regulatory frictions, trade imbalances and geopolitical risks may get in the way. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
13 Jan 2026
Economy
The US-China soybean comeback that could reshape global markets
How can a single handshake in Busan reshape global soybean flows, US farm politics and China’s food security strategy all at once? Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May analyses the implications and challenges to the latest US–China deal on soybeans trade.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
17 Dec 2025
Economy
[Big read] Liu Chang: The reluctant heiress who saved her father’s agriculture empire
As New Hope plunged into deep losses, Liu Chang faced a role she never sought. In rare candour, the reluctant heiress reflects on the strain of succession, the crisis that defined her and how she ultimately steadied her father’s agriculture empire, in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao’s Li Yaning.
Li Yaning
27 Nov 2025
Economy
Why China wants Indonesia’s palm oil
China is seeking long-term palm oil supplies from Indonesia to safeguard its food and energy security. But as trade deepens, Jakarta faces tough questions — from environmental pressures to managing domestic demand and export commitments. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May examines the issue.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
28 Oct 2025
Economy
Soybeans, canola and power: How China turned food into a strategic weapon
Can food trade become a tool of geopolitical strategy? For China, the answer is yes. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May examines how China’s agricultural imports of agricultural products like canola and soybeans are being reshaped by ongoing tensions with Canada and the US.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
22 Sep 2025
Economy
Can China save Iraq from its water crisis?
Amid Iraq’s growing water crisis, while Chinese financing and technical expertise can offer short-term relief and help plug Iraq’s infrastructure gaps, such engagement also raises the spectre of new dependencies and opaque decision-making. US academic John Calabrese looks into the issue.
John Calabrese
26 Jun 2025