ASEAN-China

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

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

Lawrence Wong: China at the heart of Asia’s stability and prosperity

China’s growing economic scale, technological innovation and active engagement in trade and regional initiatives make it a crucial force in shaping Asia’s stability, growth and prosperity over the next 25 years. This is the transcript of the speech delivered by Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong at the 2026 Bo'ao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference on 26 March 2026.

Lawrence Wong

26 Mar 2026

[Big read] He Dong: Trump’s tariffs could spur ASEAN integration

He Dong, AMRO chief economist, tells Lianhe Zaobao business editor Shen Yue how US tariffs could push ASEAN to tear down trade barriers, integrate payment systems, coordinate resources and move up the industrial value chain. This conversation is part of Lianhe Zaobao’s Future 365 interview series.

Shen Yue

18 Mar 2026

[Video] George Yeo: America’s deep pain — and why China won’t colonise

George Yeo, in an interview with ThinkChina editor Chow Yian Ping, explores America’s deep social pain, China’s struggle with corruption rooted in Confucian ties, and why change is hard. He also weighs the risk of war in the Taiwan Strait and Singapore’s future in a fast-shifting world order. This is the first episode of ThinkChina Conversations, a series of in-depth interviews with experts on China.

Chow Yian Ping

27 Feb 2026

China’s investment surge is forcing Southeast Asia to rethink industrial policy

Looking at Chinese investment in Southeast Asia, Soon Cheong Poon and Guanie Lim find that the impact of investment depends on how it is governed. Southeast Asian governments can and have pushed back against negative spillovers. But it remains to be seen if they can band together regionally to handle the next waves of investment.

Soon Cheong Poon, Guanie Lim

24 Feb 2026

Hainan is where China tests its next opening model

Hainan Free Trade Port is China’s testbed for a new opening model — centred on institutions, ecosystem-building and two-way cooperation. Rather than sidelining Singapore, this points to a broader and more integrated regional economic architecture. Academic Gu Qingyang shares his views.

Gu Qingyang

27 Jan 2026

ACFTA 3.0: The China-ASEAN deal that could shake US influence?

China’s upgraded trade pact with ASEAN promises deeper markets and tech ties, but rising regional dependence, local pushback and ongoing US-China rivalry could test the limits of its benefits, says researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.

Genevieve Donnellon-May

18 Nov 2025

ACFTA 3.0: Beijing’s quiet triumph in Southeast Asia

China is quietly weaving a new economic architecture in Southeast Asia through the upgraded ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0, while US influence languishes in the region. Researcher Ronny P Sasmita argues that this strategic pact reshapes regional influence, by embedding Beijing’s standards and technologies across ASEAN.

Ronny P Sasmita

14 Nov 2025

Ambassador Cao Zhongming: Why leaders and people alike are key to China-Singapore ties

Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Cao Zhongming says the heart of 35 years of China-Singapore ties lies in trust among leaders and warmth between peoples. In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao’s Chua Eng Wee, he reflects on the enduring patterns and evolving changes that have shaped the partnership.

Chua Eng Wee

05 Nov 2025

Malaysia’s high-stakes ASEAN chairmanship amid global turmoil

All eyes are on Malaysia as it approaches the climax of its ASEAN chairmanship in late October, marked by the second ASEAN summit of 2025 and a series of key meetings, including the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Plus Three. These events could draw some of the world’s most prominent leaders. Malaysian academic Ngeow Chow Bing gives an assessment of Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship thus far. 

Ngeow Chow Bing

07 Oct 2025

How Chinese companies are tapping ASEAN’s growing market through Singapore

Given its growing middle class with increasing purchasing power, ASEAN is becoming a highly sought-after market for Chinese companies. Lianhe Zaobao associate business editor Hu Yuanwen speaks with Mark Wang, president and CEO of HSBC Bank China Co Ltd, and Wong Kee Joo, CEO of HSBC Singapore, to find out how Chinese enterprises are expanding into the region, especially through Singapore.

Hu Yuanwen

22 Sep 2025