Economy
Economy
Can China’s slowing economy sustain its tech ambitions?
China sees technological self-reliance as the key to future growth. But with a slowing economy, can Beijing sustain the investment needed to achieve its high-tech ambitions over the long term? Economist Min-Hua Chiang examines the issue.
Min-Hua Chiang
31 Jul 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
Society
[Big read] Why Chinese gamers pay African youths to play for them
Chinese-run studios across Africa employ young workers to grind the game — do repetitive tasks to gain in-game currency — turning play into digital labour and exposing the opportunities and tensions behind the business. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting finds out more.
Lim Zhan Ting
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
Why Britain nationalised British Steel despite Chinese outrage
The UK’s nationalisation of British Steel has drawn sharp criticism from China, but the dispute goes beyond one company. It reflects a broader shift in which national security increasingly outweighs market logic in shaping global investment decisions, says Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu.
Yang Danxu
22 Jul 2026
Politics
[Big read] How China weaponised its rare earth monopoly
Rare earths are only part of the story. Over three decades, China has transformed export controls from a regulatory measure into a powerful geopolitical tool, reshaping global supply chains and strategic competition. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Chen Jing explores how experts see Beijing’s strategy evolving.
Chen Jing
21 Jul 2026
Politics
Buying certainty: How Hormuz is redefining global shipping
As conflict reshapes the Strait of Hormuz, markets are placing a premium on geopolitical certainty. The shift could redefine not only global shipping but the future of maritime governance, says US academic John Calabrese.
John Calabrese
21 Jul 2026
Politics
Why does Beijing want North Korea’s Tumen River?
Beijing’s latest rapprochement with Pyongyang reflects a calculated exchange of economic assistance, security coordination and geopolitical interests, with the long-blocked Tumen River sea route emerging as a potential strategic payoff. Journalist Kang Gwiyoung explains.
Kang Gwiyoung
21 Jul 2026
Economy
Why hosting US and Chinese AI giants is only step one for Singapore
The American and Chinese AI giants are arriving in Singapore. Whether they lift the whole economy — or merely bid up salaries and leave one day — depends on how deeply they embed themselves into local eco-systems, says academic Lin William Cong.
Lin William Cong
17 Jul 2026
Economy
How Mercedes, BMW and Audi hope to win back China
China’s EV boom has disrupted Mercedes, BMW and Audi’s dominance in China, forcing them into a radical reset. As Chinese rivals accelerate, will the German trio abandon decades of engineering tradition to match the speed of China’s auto market?
Caixin Global
17 Jul 2026