International Law

Xi raises stakes over Taiwan, warns US of ‘clash or even conflict’

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned visiting US President Donald Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could trigger a “clash or even conflict”, as Beijing raised the stakes in US-China ties. Analysts said the wording signals heightened urgency in Beijing’s Taiwan stance. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han reports.

Miao Zong-Han

14 May 2026

Private guns for China’s shipping lanes as chokepoint risks mount

China’s private security companies are rapidly expanding their capabilities and projecting power precisely where it counts most: the sea lanes of communication. This is especially significant when recent global conflicts are centred on the Strait of Hormuz and other maritime chokepoints of the world. Academic Alessandro Arduino analyses the situation.

Alessandro Arduino

14 May 2026

Why the Strait of Malacca is not another Hormuz

Concerns that similar distress seen in the Strait of Hormuz could happen in the Strait of Malacca during geopolitical conflicts are not so straightforward. The latter’s military geography is not the same. Not only that, the US and China have a whole other agenda in the region and the littoral states there are wired differently to guard their interests. Academic John Bradford analyses the situation.

John F. Bradford

11 May 2026

Singapore’s leaders see a dangerous new world

As the global order fragments and great power tensions rise, Singapore’s leaders are signalling a new era of strategic vigilance — one shaped by resilience, credibility and long-term survival, observes Lianhe Zaobao editorial consultant Goh Sin Hwee.

Goh Sin Hwee

11 May 2026

[Big read] Nuclear power plants: Energy security or wartime risk? 

Following major nuclear disasters including Chernobyl and Fukushima, safety measures have been ramped up on nuclear facilities, but mostly for accident scenarios during peacetime, and without internationally binding commitments. With energy needs increasing yet geopolitical tensions rising and nuclear power plants sited in potential conflict zones, what concrete steps can governments take to mitigate the risks? Lianhe Zaobao’s associate foreign editor So Geok Lan finds out more.

So Geok Lan

07 May 2026

Middle power or not, Singapore must step up

In a fractured world of coercion and conflict, Singapore’s rise in investor confidence reflects more than economics. Middle power or not, it must step up to defend rules and stability, says commentator Giam Meng Tuck.

Giam Meng Tuck

07 May 2026

How Manus went from AI superstar to a geopolitical problem

After months of review, Chinese authorities have decided to stop Meta’s acquisition of Manus, ordering the deal to be reversed over the next few weeks. Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu finds out what this development means and whether such a deal can be undone.

Yang Danxu

29 Apr 2026

Tit for tat: Beijing builds legal arsenal against Western sanctions and jurisdiction

US warning to Chinese banks over Iran-linked transactions triggered a swift response from Beijing, which rolled out new regulations to counter sanctions and extraterritorial legal pressure. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei examines this tit-for-tat escalation now extending into the legal sphere.

Sim Tze Wei

21 Apr 2026

A war, a postponed summit and a wider US-China rift

War in Iran has put US-China diplomacy on hold, highlighting Washington’s divided focus and Beijing’s cautious balancing act between Tehran, Gulf partners and its long-term ties with America. Joseph Chinyong Liow, Wang Gungwu Professor in East Asian Affairs and Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS, shares his insights.

Joseph Chinyong Liow

24 Mar 2026

Trump’s global agenda flies into domestic headwinds

Even as US President Donald Trump calls for international support for the war in Iran, within the US there are dissenting voices, as not everyone is convinced that war is the answer. What is clear is that domestic factors will increasingly limit Trump’s foreign policy and diplomatic engagement. Academic Derek Grossman discusses the issue.

Derek Grossman

20 Mar 2026

[Video] What the Iran war means for China

US‑Israel strikes on Iran could reverberate far beyond the Middle East, impacting China’s economy, energy security, regional influence and its ties with the US. While China maintains a cautious diplomatic approach, the unfolding Iran war could also create opportunities for it to gain leverage in its strategic rivalry with the US. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina and Lu Lingming speak with three experts to explore what the Iran war means for China.

Yi Jina, Lu Lingming

12 Mar 2026

The costs of quick power: America’s Iran strike

US-Israel attacks on Iran may achieve short-term gains but do long-term harm to the bargaining environment needed to prevent endless war. Instead of victory, Washington may have caused ripple effects that will have compounding costs for the US and for the Middle East region. Academic Hao Nan gives his assessment.

Hao Nan

05 Mar 2026