Society
When Chinese government accounts learn to meme — and face the risks
Chinese government new-media accounts are shedding bureaucratic language to connect with younger audiences, using cheeky headlines, memes and more. However, balancing personality, popularity and public responsibility is no easy feat. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu finds out more.
Liu Liu
24 Sep 2026
Society
[Big read] The deadly climate blind spots fracturing China’s illusion of control
Extreme weather in China is growing more frequent and destructive, exposing weaknesses in how vital information travels to the top and the public. Can warnings and the truth arrive in time? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Guanghui finds out.
Zhang Guanghui
23 Sep 2026
Society
[Big read] From singing bowls to forest therapy: China’s 10-trillion-RMB healing economy
China’s healing economy is booming as consumers spend on emotional wellbeing, from singing bowls and forest therapy to trendy toys. But as healing becomes big business, concerns over commercialisation and misleading claims are growing. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zeng Shi finds out.
Zeng Shi
10 Sep 2026
Society
Are Singaporeans disappearing? The identity challenge behind the baby crisis
To confront a historically low total fertility rate, Singapore is re-engineering social frameworks for parenthood. As the nation turns to global immigrants, it needs to ensure that new arrivals successfully forge a rooted national identity. Han Yong May, deputy editor-in-chief of SPH’s Chinese Media Group, considers the issues at stake.
Han Yong May
08 Sep 2026
Society
[Big read] Taiwan is running out of babies — and obstetricians
Taiwan’s fertility rate has fallen to the world’s lowest, as young people delay marriage and parenthood amid soaring costs and uncertainty. Now, a shrinking pool of births is also threatening the country’s healthcare system and its next generation of doctors. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang finds out more.
Chuang Hui Liang
08 Sep 2026
Society
Warm tea and brainwashing: Why Singaporeans fall for China’s 1040 scam
Despite years of police crackdowns, the “1040 Sunshine Project” continues to thrive in new and increasingly covert forms, luring victims with promises of enormous returns and claims of secret state backing. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Zhang Guanghui dives into the issue.
Zhang Guanghui
07 Sep 2026
Technology
[Video] Shenzhen is not just China’s factory. It wants to be its innovation engine
Shenzhen is betting its future on innovation. From AI and robotics to electric aircraft, talent and startups, manufacturing and capital are converging in Shenzhen, putting the city at the heart of China’s tech race. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lee Chee Yang finds out more.
Lee Chee Yang
07 Sep 2026
Technology
China’s autonomous driving race shifts from hype to high stakes
China is ending the Wild West ambiguity of its smart electric vehicles sector. Tough new rules for assisted and autonomous driving will expose weak systems, raise costs and force automakers into a high-stakes race for safer, smarter self-driving.
Caixin Global
04 Sep 2026
Society
Seven minutes to disaster: How climate change exposed a Himalayan blind spot
A glacier collapse near the China-Nepal border triggered a catastrophic mudslide in just seven minutes, exposing gaps in monitoring and early warning as climate change raises the risk of extreme Himalayan disasters. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei finds out more.
Sim Tze Wei
31 Aug 2026
Technology
Chatting alone? What AI companions reveal about human relationships
How do you manage a relationship with a machine that is not as emotionally invested as you and may learn to read you over time as a friend would? Navigating the AI companions landscape depends not just on regulation but on how these products are designed to handle emotional responsibility, says US researcher Hong Shen.
Hong Shen
21 Aug 2026
Technology
Game studios have bought into AI, but players still aren’t sold
AI is flooding gaming with cheaper, faster content — but not necessarily better games. As China embraces AI-native play and world models, the industry faces a harder test: can AI deliver real innovation without drowning players in clones?
Caixin Global
21 Aug 2026
Politics
Fudan targeted as universities become casualties of the tech war
Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have been placed on a US national security list, while China has targeted a European university. The moves signal a new era in which academic research is increasingly treated as a security risk. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei reports.
Sim Tze Wei
18 Aug 2026