Central Vs Local Government
Technology
How China is funding its AI ambitions without US capital
China’s hard tech sector once relied heavily on US and other overseas capital. As geopolitical tensions closed that funding channel, Beijing built a multi-tier domestic capital system that is now reshaping how Chinese AI and semiconductor companies grow, exit and attract private investment, opines technology specialist Yin Ruizhi.
Yin Ruizhi
13 Aug 2026
Politics
[Video] Zhu Rongji: The iron-fisted premier who reshaped China’s economy
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji reshaped China’s economy through sweeping reforms that came at a heavy social cost. His forceful style earned him the “economic tsar” label, but his legacy also reflects the limits of his power. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han reports.
Miao Zong-Han
13 Aug 2026
Economy
Zero self-sufficient provinces: China’s new fiscal reality
Data shows no province in China was able to fully cover its own spending in the first quarter, highlighting growing dependence on central government transfers as tax revenues become increasingly concentrated in Beijing. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Chen Jing finds out more.
Chen Jing
29 Jul 2026
Politics
From property boom to AI: China’s next corruption risk
The downfall of former Politburo member Ma Xingrui exposes how political influence and commercial interests became intertwined during China’s property boom. In the AI age, can new forms of public resources be governed without creating new opportunities for rent-seeking? Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei explores.
Sim Tze Wei
23 Jul 2026
Politics
Top tigers fall in Xi’s endless purge
A fresh wave of high-level investigations suggests Beijing’s anti-corruption drive is no longer a periodic campaign but an enduring mechanism for strengthening party discipline and political control. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong analyses China’s efforts.
Han Yong Hong
03 Jul 2026
Society
[Big read] Inside China’s arts exam shadow market
Behind China’s arts entrance exams lies a costly world of influence and opaque deals, where talent alone rarely secures a place. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Qi Lu speaks to those who have lived through such experiences, and to academics who explain how the system works.
Qi Lu
23 Jun 2026
Economy
Why Chinese banks now act like local governments
China’s banks are increasingly shaped by state-directed targets, whitelists and performance indicators, pushing them to prioritise policy goals over market logic and resemble local governments in their behaviour. Economist Chen Kang warns of the systemic risks in trading market pricing for rigid policy-driven lists.
Chen Kang
23 Jun 2026
Economy
Why desperate local governments fund corporate fantasies
Driven by an insatiable hunger for economic performance, China’s local officials are plunging public funds into overhyped corporate ventures. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting looks inside the desperate game of “fleecing the old geezers”, or beng laotou.
Lim Zhan Ting
17 Jun 2026
Economy
Built to impress: Why China’s tourism boom leaves white elephants behind
China’s tourism boom has produced a wave of ambitious megaprojects across the country, but many have stalled or failed to attract visitors, leaving behind costly white elephants. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu reports.
Liu Liu
10 Jun 2026
Society
[Big read] Banned or not, Taiwanese keep heading to mainland China anyway
Despite restrictions on group tours, Taiwanese continue travelling to mainland China in growing numbers, driven by demand, rising costs at home and expanding unofficial travel channels. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang reports from Taipei.
Chuang Hui Liang
15 May 2026