Industrial Policy

From industrial giant to specialised supplier: The reshaping of Japan

Amid China’s tech rise, a demographic crisis and regional tensions, Japan is being forced to dismantle its post-war economic model and redefine its global role. Academic Tan Kong Yam analyses the challenges and the way forward for Japan.

Tan Kong Yam

03 Jun 2026

China is arming the Global South — and expanding its influence

China has turned its defence industry into a formidable exporter, reshaping security across the Global South. As researcher Tahir Mahmood Azad argues, its weapons come bundled with ties that draw states into Beijing’s strategic orbit.

Tahir Mahmood Azad

05 May 2026

How Chinese talent powers US AI dominance

US AI leadership has long relied on Chinese talent, from leading researchers in top institutions to foreign-born engineers driving innovation, underscoring how global talent flows have been central to its technological dominance. Economist Min-Hua Chiang gives her analysis.

Min-Hua Chiang

29 Apr 2026

The West’s industrial policy double standard

For decades, industrial policy was discouraged in developing economies, even as China’s state-led model reshaped global supply chains. Now, with the US and Europe embracing massive interventions, the old orthodoxy looks less like principle than self-interest. Academic Guanie Lim examines how the discourse on industrial policy has shifted.

Guanie Lim

27 Apr 2026

Europe copies China’s industrial playbook: A protectionist turn?

Europe’s new industrial policy mirrors aspects of China’s state-led model, from local content rules to investment screening. But is this a shift toward protectionism — or a path to deeper EU-China industrial cooperation? Researcher Patrick Schröder analyses the situation.

Patrick Schröder

17 Apr 2026

Will Fujian ever surpass Taiwan in GDP and income? [Eye on Fujian series]

For many years, Fujian’s development narrative included an ambitious goal: to surpass Taiwan in GDP first and per capita income later. Slower growth and Taiwan’s tech edge make that increasingly challenging. EAI senior research fellow Bo Chen explains Fujian’s rise and its challenges.

Bo Chen

24 Mar 2026

China enters the 4% growth era: Stability over speed

Amid rising global uncertainty and frequent international trade frictions, the Chinese government’s lower national growth target reflects its emphasis on stability. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong observes that this eases the pressure on local governments but leaves international investors cautious.

Han Yong Hong

06 Mar 2026

China’s investment surge is forcing Southeast Asia to rethink industrial policy

Looking at Chinese investment in Southeast Asia, Soon Cheong Poon and Guanie Lim find that the impact of investment depends on how it is governed. Southeast Asian governments can and have pushed back against negative spillovers. But it remains to be seen if they can band together regionally to handle the next waves of investment.

Soon Cheong Poon, Guanie Lim

24 Feb 2026

From lender to partner: China’s BRI 2.0 is harder for the West to contain

China’s Belt and Road has evolved. No longer just a lender, Beijing now co-builds green and digital industrial ecosystems with host countries and private firms, creating influence that is subtler, more durable, and harder for the West to challenge. US academic John Calabrese highlights examples from the Middle East & North Africa region, including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt.

John Calabrese

16 Dec 2025

China’s humanoid robot boom: All hype, little practicality?

Over 150 humanoid robot companies are now operating in China, yet questions remain about whether these machines can truly deliver industrial value. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yush Chau looks at challenges and prospects for the industry.

Yush Chau

12 Dec 2025

Why China’s waste incinerators are running out of trash

As China pushes forward with recycling and zero-waste campaigns, its massive incineration sector faces an unexpected problem: a shortage of trash. Is this a triumph of environmental policy — or a miscalculation in planning?

Erik Baark

17 Oct 2025

Can Indonesia stay green while becoming the ‘Saudi Arabia of nickel’?

Indonesia’s push to become a nickel powerhouse amid its green energy transition threatens fragile ecosystems and local communities. The true test lies in balancing decarbonisation, biodiversity and geopolitical sovereignty amid growing Chinese influence, says researcher Ronny P Sasmita.

Ronny P Sasmita

07 Oct 2025