Election

Can Trump survive a fourth political assassination attempt?

Reflecting on the assassination attempts against US President Trump, commentator Deng Yuwen argues that institutions once seen as sources of public confidence have weakened, while repeated gunfire in symbolic spaces of power shows external hatred increasingly penetrating the system’s boundaries. This is especially dangerous when the US president becomes a highly symbolic figure embodying political conflict.

Deng Yuwen

28 Apr 2026

How civilisational politics fuels today’s wars

Academic Ma Haiyun traces the history of civilisational conflict narratives in Western strategic thinking, built on Jewish intellectual foundations, long before the rise of Samuel P. Huntington’s The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Such approaches have had a profound effect on influencing the US’s behaviour in the Middle East and spillover effects in the region.

Ma Haiyun

22 Apr 2026

When donations decide wars: How lobbyists sway US foreign policy

US foreign policy today is greatly influenced by immigration patterns, organised lobbying and campaign finance dynamics, causing huge pendulum swings that have major consequences. Academic Ma Haiyun shares his views. 

Ma Haiyun

05 Mar 2026

Let the woman rule: How Takaichi became Japan’s symbol of change

Voters rallied behind Japan’s first female prime minister, seeing Takaichi not just as a Liberal Democratic Party leader but as a figure to challenge the old order and bring unprecedented change to politics and policy. Academic Shin Kawashima takes a look at the factors that led to the election outcome.

Shin Kawashima

27 Feb 2026

Takaichi: Moderate in Japan, hawk abroad?

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seen as cautious and moderate in Japan, prioritising budgets and legal debates. Yet in China and overseas, her rhetoric is often framed as provocative, stoking tensions. Academic Shin Kawashima looks into the discrepancies.

Shin Kawashima

26 Feb 2026

Supreme Court ruling weakens Trump ahead of China visit

The US Supreme Court has struck down Trump’s tariffs, limiting his leverage and signalling rising domestic opposition. Ahead of his visit to China, his ability to secure favourable trade and political concessions is under pressure, says Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan.

Yu Zeyuan

23 Feb 2026

Why Chinese hawks cheer Takaichi's win

Takaichi’s landslide win and Japan’s hardline turn are not just Tokyo’s story. In Beijing, it gives hardliners moral cover, reframes tension as destiny and turns miscalculation into a dangerous new logic for East Asia. Commentator Deng Yuwen analyses the situation.

Deng Yuwen

19 Feb 2026

Takaichi’s supermajority: Power without brakes?

Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party supermajority accelerates decisive policy while triggering three reinforcing cycles: the “Takaichi-isation” of governance, rightward policy drift, and rising strategic risks at home and abroad, says academic Hao Nan.

Hao Nan

19 Feb 2026

Beyond China: Japan’s unseen diplomacy under Takaichi

With Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi winning a huge victory in the latest snap election, what does this mean for Japan’s relations with other countries and regions, including South Korea, India and Southeast Asia? Japanese academic Shin Kawashima gives his take.

Shin Kawashima

12 Feb 2026

Takaichi’s gamble: Can charisma carry Japan?

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi has called a surprise election, betting her personal appeal and high approval ratings can rally voters, check the opposition and secure a mandate to steer Japan through uncertainty. Academic Zhang Yun gives his analysis.

Zhang Yun

05 Feb 2026

Takaichi’s gamble: Can an early election secure Japan’s future?

Despite the risks, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to hold a snap general election. Academic Zhang Yun observes that external factors are a major consideration for Takaichi’s risk-taking, in particular Japan’s relations with China.

Zhang Yun

20 Jan 2026

[Big read] Myanmar’s election: Beijing plans, ASEAN stalls, youth pay the price

Myanmar holds elections while Beijing charts its long game and ASEAN stalls. On the ground, young people flee conscription and insecurity, bearing the human cost of political manoeuvring far beyond their control. Lianhe Zaobao journalists Tan Jet Min and Zhou Yifei speak to academics and ordinary Burmese to find out more.

Tan Jet Min, Zhou Yifei

01 Dec 2025