Belt And Road Initiative

Not distracted: Southeast Asia remains firmly in China’s diplomatic orbit

China has kept Southeast Asia in its sights despite other pressing concerns: it seeks to draw Vietnam closer by highlighting their socialist credentials and has reached out to the Philippines despite their differences. Malaysia’s East Coast Railway Line will also bind Southeast Asia closer to China, says ISEAS researcher Lye Liang Fook.

Lye Liang Fook

Bamboo diplomacy no more? Vietnam’s growing comfort with China

Amid the complex dynamics of China-Vietnam relations, the balancing act between strategic autonomy and economic dependence is becoming increasingly precarious. Academic Alexander L. Vuving explains why. 

Alexander L. Vuving

War in Iran could rewire China’s global role

In the longer term, the Iran war presents not just threats but also opportunities for China’s economy, such as by correcting deflationary pressure domestically and being viewed as a better bet in global supply chains and investment. Academic Gu Qingyang gives his analysis.

Gu Qingyang

From Nepal to Kazakhstan: Why Chinese students study in unlikely destinations

Amid the fierce competition in China’s higher education, many Chinese youths are choosing to stay off the beaten — and more expensive — path to further their studies in less popular countries such as Nepal and Kazakhstan. However, Lianhe Zaobao journalist Lee Chee Yang finds out that notwithstanding the challenges of language and academic pressure, there is no guarantee of improvement in prospects for these students.

Lee Chee Yang

China’s power in the Middle East has hard limits

China is becoming harder to ignore in the Middle East. Yet the gap between economic presence and strategic power remains wide, even as American policy swings, argues US academic John Calabrese.

John Calabrese

China’s ‘new multilateralism’: A rival to the US-led order?

China is asserting itself in global governance through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and alternative multilateral initiatives, combining consultation, soft laws and high standards to challenge the US-led order, says Chinese academic Gu Bin.

Gu Bin

Whoever strikes hardest wins? Trump’s big stick returns to the Americas

The US captured Maduro in a dramatic raid, signalling it will act unilaterally to protect its interests in the western hemisphere. Some Latin American governments, however, may now move closer to Beijing. Academic Alex Arduino explains.

Alessandro Arduino

China just shifted gears in the Middle East

As war, rivalry and realignment grip the Middle East, China is abandoning its patient, low-risk approach. Beijing is accelerating diplomacy, security engagement and economic planning — raising both its influence and its exposure. Academic Alessandro Arduino explores the situation.

Alessandro Arduino

Beijing’s western anxiety: Afghanistan’s turmoil and Trump’s return to Bagram

Rising border violence and Trump’s push for a US foothold in Afghanistan are unsettling Beijing. As the region’s fault lines reopen, China’s western frontier could become a weak link in its global ambitions. Academic Alessandro Arduino examines the implications for China’s regional stability and strategic ambition.

Alessandro Arduino

Polar Silk Road: China’s plan B for global trade

China’s “Polar Silk Road” is more than a shipping experiment. By testing Arctic routes with Russia, Beijing is building a backup network of land and sea corridors — ensuring no single chokepoint can cripple its global trade. Academic Hao Nan provides insights into this strategy.

Hao Nan

Hong Kong’s new pivot: From Western gateway to Middle Eastern bridge

Hong Kong is embedding itself in a multipolar, collaborative network linking Asia and the Middle East, says US academic John Calabrese. For Gulf economies diversifying beyond hydrocarbons, it offers trusted legal and financial structures; for Chinese firms, a safe entry point into Middle Eastern markets; and for Gulf investors, a strategic partner facilitating informed access to Chinese assets.

John Calabrese

Tianjin Declaration: China’s blueprint for a post-Western world?

At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Tianjin, China positioned the bloc as a vehicle for fairer global governance and multipolar cooperation. While unity was the message, the path forward reveals both shared ambitions and the realities of diverse interests. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting finds out more.

Lim Zhan Ting