History

[Photos] What I saw at Tiananmen in 1989 before I was shot (Part 2)

In the second part of a two-part article, historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao recounts his rescue, treatment and recovery following his near-fatal gunshot wound to the neck as a young journalist during the 1989 Tiananmen incident.

Hsu Chung-mao

15 Jun 2026

[Photos] What I saw at Tiananmen in 1989 before I was shot (Part 1)

Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao recounts a pivotal time in his life and world history, tracing back the events surrounding his near-fatal gunshot wound to the neck as a young journalist during the 1989 Tiananmen incident.

Hsu Chung-mao

15 Jun 2026

Is ‘Dear You’ China’s perfect propaganda film?

Stripping away the tears, Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei examines how a 1.69 billion RMB blockbuster subtly targets the global Chinese diaspora, reflecting on the complex tug-of-war between ancestry and allegiance. 

Sim Tze Wei

15 Jun 2026

France’s new law: Can China get back its looted treasures?

France’s landmark 2026 legal reform has breathed new life into global art repatriation. For China, whose looted Old Summer Palace treasures remain in French collections, the implications could be significant. Lawyer Ryan Su examines the challenges in a field where emotions and patriotism run high.

Ryan Su

09 Jun 2026

Is Ai Weiwei a figure of the past?

By embodying recognisable themes of political dissent, ideological trauma and cultural memory, early Chinese contemporary artists like Ai Weiwei acted as interfaces that helped the West understand China. But the milieu has changed, requiring new-gen artists to reexamine their identity and their art. Lianhe Zaobao visual journalist Fio Zhang gives her take on the issue.

Fio Zhang

29 May 2026

[Photos] Witnessing history as a Taiwan reporter: Singapore in the 1980s and 1990s

How does a young Taiwanese reporter end up chasing history and love in Singapore? Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao takes a look back at the political engineering and leaders that shaped an era in Singapore, along with his personal ties to the country.

Hsu Chung-mao

29 May 2026

Why bombs don’t break Iran

The domestic issues and fragile regime in Iran would have led one to believe that an attack by the US would result in a quick defeat. Commentator Tao Ray offers a perspective on why Iran remains resilient: not because of its military strength or strategy, but the strong sense of “us versus them”.

Tao Ray

26 May 2026

China’s forgotten role in shaping Japan’s pacifist constitution

Japan’s Constitution is set to mark its 80th anniversary in 2027 as debate over revision gains momentum. Yet Article 9 remains sensitive, with war-renunciation and armed forces limits still central to national consensus and contention, says Japanese academic Shin Kawashima.

Shin Kawashima

18 May 2026

How Peking duck went from imperial Beijing to Singapore’s kopitiams

Once a delicacy savoured at imperial banquets, Peking duck has shed its exclusivity and reinvented itself for the masses — evolving in style, price and ritual as it finds an unexpected new home in the heartlands. Lianhe Zaobao lifestyle correspondent Tang Ai Wei finds out more.

Tang Ai Wei

15 May 2026

Lai Ching-te’s Japan-era tribute clouds Trump-Xi summit

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s visit to honour Japanese-era engineer Yoichi Hatta at Wushantou Reservoir has triggered political backlash at home and criticism from Beijing, coming just days before the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, where Taiwan tensions loom. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk looks into the matter.

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

12 May 2026

China’s political debate finds a new home on YouTube

China’s political debate finds a new home on YouTube, where overseas-based commentators build a parallel public sphere still widely accessed in China via VPN, even as some voices remain on the ground. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Guanghui explores the shift.

Zhang Guanghui

12 May 2026

Is Taiwan’s autonomy on the table at the Trump-Xi Beijing summit?

With US President Trump’s visit to China coming up, Taiwan is left especially vulnerable, fearing it will be used in the game of smoke and mirrors between the US and China. With the Democratic Progressive Party putting all its eggs in the US’s basket, Taiwan’s strategic autonomy is all but lost, says US academic Zhiqun Zhu.

Zhiqun Zhu

07 May 2026