Economy

China’s hybrid export boom faces new EU limits

A new China-EU trade deal sets limits on Chinese hybrid exports, offering market certainty while curbing rapid growth as Brussels shields local carmakers. With EV tariffs in place, scrutiny now shifts towards Chinese investments in European factories.

Caixin Global

30 Oct 2026

China wants US soybeans. Its buyers prefer Brazil

In China’s soybean trade, state-owned enterprises tend to help fulfil bilateral commitments while private processors weigh up the costs and benefits. This means that the recovery of US exports depends less on bilateral agreements and more on commercial justifications, says researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.

Genevieve Donnellon-May

28 Oct 2026

Can North Korea’s border bridges unlock Northeast Asia?

New bridges link North Korea more closely to China and Russia, but old rivalries and security tensions continue to divide Northeast Asia. Could better connectivity open new economic opportunities, or deepen existing geopolitical fault lines? Analyst Hao Nan explains.

Hao Nan

27 Oct 2026

Huawei’s auto ambitions face a reckoning after Seres rift

A brief rift between Huawei and automaker Seres over the latter’s flagship electric vehicle (EV) brand, Aito, exposes deep frictions in China’s EV market, where automakers struggle to balance tech innovation with profitability and corporate autonomy.

Caixin Global

23 Oct 2026

China got richer. Why did its older people get lonelier?

China’s economic miracle has brought prosperity and mobility to millions — but also left many older people lonely. As families shrink, children migrate and communities change, loneliness reveals the hidden social costs of a transformation built on success. Academic Keming Yang explains.

Keming Yang

23 Oct 2026

China’s beef tariffs reveal the limits of trade diplomacy

China’s beef tariff safeguard reflects domestic pressure to protect China’s cattle producers, but its country-specific quotas distribute the costs unevenly as seen by the Brazilian case, says researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.

Genevieve Donnellon-May

22 Oct 2026

[Big read] From stem cells to immersive dining: Singapore firms tap into China’s innovative sectors

Singapore companies are tapping into China’s emerging sectors, such as stem cell therapies, leveraging the country’s vast market, advanced supply chains and evolving consumer preferences to drive growth. Lianhe Zaobao business journalist Siow Zhi Hui finds out more.

Siow Zhi Hui

21 Oct 2026

China’s growth dilemma: More stimulus, but where is the demand?

Beijing is stepping up efforts to meet its growth target, but weak consumer confidence, mounting debt and a prolonged property slump threaten to blunt the impact of its latest measures. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei tells us more.

Sim Tze Wei

19 Oct 2026

Chinese youths trade ambition for simple pleasures

From catching caterpillars to riding slow trains, Chinese youths are pursuing joy from the little things in life. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk looks at the rise of youths shunning ambition and excess spending, and “just getting on with life”.

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

16 Oct 2026

Distrusting Beijing, encountering ‘everyday China’ in the Philippines

Younger Filipinos seem to have more nuanced attitudes towards China and encounter its soft power in different ways than their parents’ generation, but this does not mean a sea change has occurred. Academic Jan Robert R Go gives his analysis.

Jan Robert R Go

13 Oct 2026

[Big read] China’s smart farms boost output, but can farmers afford the upgrade?

BeiDou-guided harvesters and soil big data are reshaping China’s agricultural heartland. But Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei explains why high-tech solutions alone cannot fully guarantee China’s food security.

Sim Tze Wei

13 Oct 2026

Five minutes to Shenzhen: Can Hong Kong win back its shoppers?

The new Huanggang Port makes border crossings between Shenzhen and Hong Kong easier than ever. But can Hong Kong businesses turn greater connectivity into an opportunity rather than a threat? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing finds out.

Tai Hing Shing

12 Oct 2026