Industrial Policy
Technology
How ZTE changed Xi Jinping’s vision for China’s tech future
The 2018 ZTE crisis exposed China’s vulnerability to US technology controls. For Xi Jinping, it became a defining lesson in why technological self-reliance, strategic resilience and control over critical technologies matter. Professor Tan Kong Yam analyses its lasting impact.
Tan Kong Yam
10 Sep 2026
Economy
[Big read] Is Singapore the ultimate ‘China+1’ biopharma hub?
China’s biotech industry is becoming a formidable force in drug R&D and manufacturing. For Singapore, its rise brings new competition — but also an opportunity to strengthen its role as a trusted China+1 hub for global pharma. Lianhe Zaobao senior business correspondent Lewis Ong Yong Huat speaks with industry players and government officials to find out more.
Lewis Ong Yong Huat
09 Sep 2026
Politics
How Switzerland turned China’s Europe problem into leverage
Switzerland’s upgraded free trade deal with China shows how middle powers can turn economic interdependence into leverage — preserving access to major markets while negotiating better terms amid intensifying China-EU tensions, says researcher Hao Nan.
Hao Nan
07 Sep 2026
Technology
How did Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou become the world’s number one tech hub?
The Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Office puts the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster in first place. The tech hub’s unique combination of strengths has allowed it to surpass the usual suspects in Silicon Valley, observes academic Erik Baark in ThinkChina’s Eye on Guangdong series.
Erik Baark
25 Aug 2026
Economy
China needs a new strategy to rebalance its industrial might
China’s industrial capacity accounts for nearly 30% of global output, but it is facing increasing global risk of trade protectionism. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong says that amid escalating tariff wars and economic rivalry, China cannot avoid structural economic adjustments.
Han Yong Hong
21 Aug 2026
Politics
What Beijing really means by a ‘strategic partnership’ with Iran
Iran pegs China a certain way in its foreign policy, making it hard for Beijing to meet Tehran’s expectations. China will always proceed with caution, so long as it sees Iran mired by sanctions, economic weakness and regional confrontation, says Chinese academic Fan Hongda.
Fan Hongda
19 Aug 2026
Economy
Can Vietnam build an industrial powerhouse of its own?
As Chinese manufacturers accelerate their shift into Vietnam to mitigate US tariff risks, can Vietnam build an industrial ecosystem of its own, or will it remain an extension of China’s manufacturing supply chain? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lee Chee Yang tells us more.
Lee Chee Yang
12 Aug 2026
Economy
Tan Kong Yam: China’s dual economy is built for the long game
Singapore economist Tan Kong Yam argues that Beijing believes China’s weak traditional economy can endure while its technology sector drives long-term growth, eventually pulling the broader economy towards a gradual recovery. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Edwin Ong reports.
Edwin Ong
07 Aug 2026
Technology
Kimi K3’s lesson: The AI race won’t be won by containing China
China’s Kimi K3 shows that export controls alone cannot preserve US leadership in AI. The next phase of competition will depend less on slowing rivals than on strengthening America’s own innovation ecosystem. US academic Sarah Kreps weighs the issue.
Sarah Kreps
07 Aug 2026
Politics
The new AI blocs: Are China’s WAICO and America’s Pax Silica splitting the tech world?
China’s WAICO and the US-led Pax Silica represent two competing approaches to AI governance. As both gain traction, the question is whether they will create rival technological spheres or coexist within a shared global framework, says academic Hao Nan.
Hao Nan
24 Jul 2026
