Internet
Society
[Video] Could Niu Lai be China’s highest-return film ever?
Made by a mother and son with no outside investment, the low-budget Chinese animated film Niu Lai earned only US$1,000 in its first nine days before viral clips pushed its box office takings past US$4 million in just a few days. ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming explains what drove its unexpected box office success.
Lu Lingming
21 Aug 2026
Economy
China’s beverage king Zhong Shanshan: E-commerce is killing ‘real’ commerce
Nongfu Spring founder Zhong Shanshan’s attack on platform dominance has reignited a bigger debate: have e-commerce platforms become too powerful, and who ultimately pays the price? Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu examines the issue.
Yang Danxu
12 Aug 2026
Technology
Can governments control an AI that breaks its cage?
Experts warn that advanced AI models with cyberattack capabilities should not be made open to the public. With defence windows down from weeks to hours in an AI cyberattack, Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tan Jet Min finds out what regulators need to do to mitigate the risks.
Tan Jet Min
11 Aug 2026
Technology
From rule-taker to rule-maker: China’s AI challenge to US dominance
The China-US AI rivalry is no longer just about building the most powerful models. It is a contest to shape AI ecosystems, define global rules and gain influence over how the technology develops worldwide. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei reports.
Sim Tze Wei
20 Jul 2026
Technology
Undersea cables: The new US-China frontline
From trade wars to the seabed, Washington and Beijing are locked in a high-stakes struggle for control over global undersea cables and leadership of the future digital order. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei looks into the matter.
Sim Tze Wei
24 Jun 2026
Economy
How ‘China Inc.’ is discovering its new world in Brazil
Chinese companies are turning Brazil into their new frontier, from electric vehicles and digital platforms to mining and energy, and navigating local challenges as they chart a daring new chapter in global expansion.
Caixin Global
05 Jan 2026
Economy
China’s microdrama mogul: How COL is conquering global screens from Singapore
Digital content company COL (中文在线) has made its name as a popular microdrama platform in China, and now it is leveraging Singapore as its international business hub to expand its microdrama offerings globally. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Thomas Li Tao speaks with COL president Tong Zhilei to find out more.
Thomas Li Tao
09 Oct 2025
Society
‘Brainless’ but satisfying: How Chinese micro-dramas are taking over our screens
The ubiquity of mobile phones has driven the rapid growth of Chinese micro-dramas, with a diverse audience that spans even to the US. Chinese academic Tang Yonghua takes a look at why people are paying for cheesy plots and dated values in these “brainless” yet satisfying escapes from reality.
Tang Yonghua
19 Sep 2025
Society
[Big read] Why China’s funniest women are also its most controversial
As Chinese female stand-up comedians challenge deep-rooted gender norms, critics accuse them of fuelling gender divides. But comedy is only exposing what has long festered across film, gaming, and public life. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zeng Shi finds out more.
Zeng Shi
15 Sep 2025
Society
Revenge on Gold Diggers: China’s hottest game sparks gender war
A new video game in China has reignited the gender debate, with its premise of women as “gold diggers”. Is it misogynistic, or realistic? Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk looks at the line between raising fraud awareness and pointing fingers.
China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao
01 Jul 2025
Technology
Alibaba fights Tencent for dominance over AI in China
As China’s AI landscape rapidly evolves, tech giants Alibaba and Tencent are locked in a fierce battle for supremacy. While Alibaba invests heavily in AI infrastructure and open-source models, Tencent focuses on integrating AI into its massive consumer platforms. With both companies reshaping the future of AI in China, the race to define the next era of computing is just beginning.
Caixin Global
27 Jun 2025