Immigration

As China moves forward, America turns backward and inward

Comparing the US and Chinese presidents’ recent narratives, it is clear that China keeps moving forward as a confident global leader, while an insecure Trump is taking America backward, says US academic Zhiqun Zhu.

Zhiqun Zhu

21 Jul 2026

Taiwan wants more foreigners: Is it ready?

A super-aged society forced Taiwan to overhaul its immigration policies and recruit global labour. Lianhe Zaobao Taipei correspondent Lai Oi Lai asks: is the island truly ready to open up?

Lai Oi Lai

16 Jul 2026

Million-dollar overseas degrees, entry-level Chinese salaries

For decades, studying abroad was seen as a ticket to opportunity. Now, more Chinese graduates are returning home — only to find that foreign credentials carry less weight than before. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu examines the issue.

Liu Liu

08 Jul 2026

Can India-Taiwan ties withstand backlash over Indian migrant workers?

While Taiwan looks for ways to diversify its labour pool with Indian workers high on that list, civil society and the opposition have come in with scaremongering tactics that may jeopardise Taiwan’s steady relations with India. Academic Ghulam Ali weighs in on the issue. 

Ghulam Ali

06 May 2026

Empire in decline? Asian Americans in an age of anxiety

Amid intensified immigration enforcement, many immigrants and Asian Americans report rising fear, discrimination and uncertainty, reshaping daily life and eroding confidence in the American promise. Chinese American academic Wu Guo shares some insight on the long-term impact of ICE operations on the psyche of the Asian community.

Wu Guo

23 Apr 2026

With Japan less than welcoming, where do the Chinese ‘run’ to?

Amid “involution” and competition in China, some Chinese are opting to migrate to Japan. However, given the current political tension between China and Japan, things are not as rosy as they had hoped. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting speaks to some Chinese in Japan to get their views.

Lim Zhan Ting

26 Mar 2026

[Big read] Can China’s new migrants find a home in Takaichi’s Japan?

Relaxed immigration policies and shifting geopolitical dynamics have ushered Japan into the “era of one million overseas Chinese”. Writer Foo Choo Wei discovers that amid shifts in policy and deteriorating China-Japan relations, these Chinese migrants must balance good neighbourliness while preserving their culture and language.

Foo Choo Wei

13 Mar 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

[Big read] Pay or reveal: How America’s borders favour the wealthy

As Washington courts millionaires with a fast track to residency, ordinary travellers — even from visa-free countries — may be asked to surrender years of online history, marking a new hierarchy at America’s borders. Lianhe Zaobao executive translator Mak Cor Sin speaks to academics and experts to find out more.

Mak Cor Sin

08 Jan 2026

[Big read] When the American dream of birthright citizenship fades for Chinese parents

Chinese parents once flocked to the US for birthright citizenship, but new immigration policies have cast doubt on that path. Facing uncertainty, many are now turning to countries like Chile for affordable, stable alternatives — signalling a major shift in the global birth tourism landscape. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Claudia Liao explores the impact of the shift in policy.

Claudia Liao

02 Oct 2025

[Big read] Joe Wong: The Chinese stand-up comedian who performed at the White House

With a PhD in biochemistry and a bespectacled, unassuming appearance, Joe Wong does not fit the profile of a typical comedian. However, his perceptive, cross-cultural humour has endeared him to audiences in the US and China. The Chinese-American comedian tells Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Heyang about his passion for stand-up comedy, performing in Chinese and English, and the challenges of bringing stand-up to China.

Zhang Heyang

23 Jul 2025

A Foochow coffee boy’s journey through Singapore’s kopitiam history

At 12, Choo Ee Choo came to Singapore from Fuzhou and began life as a kopi kia in Balestier. Now 80, he recalls a time when brewing coffee was a guarded craft, and the Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association helped settle disputes and support the community. For Choo, coffee wasn’t just a drink — it was a way of life, even for the poorest coolies with only half a cup to spare. Lianhe Zaobao lifestyle correspondent Tang Ai Wei finds out more.

Tang Ai Wei

11 Jul 2025