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Too fast to censor: How online rage is turning on China’s elites

From singer Han Hong to China’s ambassador to India, recent online backlashes reveal how China’s attention economy can turn public frustration into viral outrage before regulators are able to respond. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong tells us more.

Han Yong Hong

10 Jul 2026

Why Japan is fast-tracking its defence overhaul

As Tokyo revises its landmark Three Security Documents, the real story lies beyond nuclear policy. Japan is reshaping its defence strategy to confront China’s rise, shifting US expectations and new forms of warfare. Japanese academic Shin Kawashima gives his analysis.

Shin Kawashima

06 Jul 2026

Top tigers fall in Xi’s endless purge

A fresh wave of high-level investigations suggests Beijing’s anti-corruption drive is no longer a periodic campaign but an enduring mechanism for strengthening party discipline and political control. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong analyses China’s efforts.

Han Yong Hong

03 Jul 2026

Can India still trust Trump’s America?

India’s fear that the US is moving closer to China has it seeking to be more self-sufficient in defence and making its own approaches to China. Indian researcher Rishi Gupta explains.

Rishi Gupta

03 Jul 2026

Latin America: Can US hard power stop China’s long game?

The view that China is reeling from the US’s efforts to restore its preeminence in the western hemisphere is premature and misses Beijing’s broader game at play, says ISEAS researcher Lye Liang Fook.

Lye Liang Fook

29 Jun 2026

‘We’re not that wealthy’: Beijing’s answer to China Shock 2.0

As trade tensions flare, China’s leadership is fiercely defending Chinese enterprises and rejecting the Western narrative of China as a threat. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong takes a look at the key takeaways of Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s speech during the Summer Davos forum.

Han Yong Hong

26 Jun 2026

Xi’s missing smile: What AI reveals about his meetings with Trump and Putin

Using a combination of state media news footage, artificial intelligence and a facial coding system, Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai finds that body language speaks volumes when he compares Chinese President Xi Jinping’s facial expressions in the Xi-Trump meetings of May 2026 and November 2017, and the Xi-Putin meeting of May 2026.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

08 Jun 2026

Did Japan just ‘downgrade’ China in its Diplomatic Bluebook?

Japan’s latest Diplomatic Bluebook describes China as “an important neighbouring country”, when it used to be “one of Japan’s most important bilateral relations”, prompting backlash from China. Academic Shin Kawashima says there is no need to read too much into the change in phrasing.

Shin Kawashima

03 Jun 2026

[Video] Hegseth at Shangri-La Dialogue: Toning down US rhetoric

At the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth seemed to tone down criticisms of China. Does this mean a more pragmatic, prudent approach going forward? Lianhe Zaobao China news correspondent Edwin Ong speaks to experts for their take.

Edwin Ong

02 Jun 2026

China’s bid for a slice of the medical tourism market

Driven by vast surgical experience and lower costs, China’s medical tourism sector is expanding. However, Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yush Chau finds out that building an international reputation and managing domestic resources remain key challenges.

Yush Chau

02 Jun 2026

Trump and Putin’s visits confirm Beijing as the new global pivot

China’s recent hosting of both the US and Russian presidents shows that while it is not yet replacing the US as the strongest among the three powers, there is a definite shift in the balance, and China is dealing with both on its own terms. Academic Alexander Korolev explains.

Alexander Korolev

26 May 2026

Japan, China and the race for Africa’s critical minerals

As Japan expands its Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision across Africa, competition with China is increasingly centred on critical minerals, supply chains and strategic infrastructure. Japanese academic Mitsugi Endo analyses the implications.

Mitsugi Endo

25 May 2026