Manufacturing

How geopolitics rewired China’s economy

Looking beyond the numbers of China’s published half-year economic data, it is clear that structural changes in China’s economy are taking place, which will have broader effects in the longer term, says academic Gu Qingyang.

Gu Qingyang

15 Jul 2026

[Big read] One Taiwan, two speeds: The winners and losers of the AI boom

Taiwan’s AI boom is driving record growth and stock market highs, but beneath the prosperity, widening inequality and geopolitical risks threaten its long-term advantage. Lianhe Zaobao Taipei correspondent Lai Oi Lai speaks with experts and people on the ground to find out.

Lai Oi Lai

15 Jul 2026

China as an absolute advantage economy

Given China’s current industrial and financial stature, Professor Yasheng Huang observes that the puzzle is not why China exports cars, but why it is still exporting t-shirts.

Yasheng Huang

30 Jun 2026

From caviar to foie gras: China’s next export shock

From caviar to foie gras, Chinese producers are entering markets long tied to European prestige. As these brands expand overseas, Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu explores what their success reveals about China’s growing influence in global markets.

Yang Danxu

30 Jun 2026

How Turkey arms China’s rivals without angering Beijing

Just as it balanced its role supplying combat drones to Ukraine while deepening trade relations with Russia, Turkey is playing a similar game by advancing arms sales in the Indo-Pacific while staying out of China’s way. Italian commentator Emanuele Scimia gives his analysis.

Emanuele Scimia

29 Jun 2026

Chinese carmakers push deeper into Europe despite rising EU trade barriers

EU tariffs have not stopped China’s auto advance. Carmakers are capitalising on the popularity of Chinese electric vehicles and deepening their European footprint through local production, partnerships and regulatory adaptation.

Caixin Global

12 Jun 2026

China is everywhere at the World Cup except on the field

Despite the ambitions of Chinese President Xi Jinping for China to be in the World Cup, China has only qualified for the finals once before, and will not feature in this year’s edition — except in supporting roles. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei notes that football is a grassroots activity and can only thrive if allowed to grow organically.

Sim Tze Wei

11 Jun 2026

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

Deflation: Beijing’s blind spot or its strategy?

China’s deflation reflects both weak demand and deliberate industrial strategy. But the model depends on consumption eventually catching up, raising questions over sustainability and regional spillovers for Southeast Asia. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains.

Genevieve Donnellon-May

18 May 2026

[Big read] From spare parts to world champions: China’s motorcycle shock rise

Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO’s win in the World Superbike Championship has captured international attention towards China’s “Motorcycle Capital” Chongqing. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu speaks with motorcycle enthusiasts and industry insiders to trace the industry’s breakthrough, growth and trajectory.

Liu Liu

08 May 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

Capital realism: A divided world, more connected than ever

Global trade is not fragmenting into isolation but entrenching new forms of interdependence. As rules diverge, connections multiply, deepen, and become harder to unwind, argues the Milken Institute’s Robin Hu.

Robin Hu

15 Apr 2026