Over-Consumption
Society
China’s youth embrace the mystical power of crystals
As a way of coping with life’s difficulties and stressors, China’s youths are turning to an unusual source of comfort — crystals. What benefits do these precious stones have for youths and what is their appeal? Lianhe Zaobao Shenzhen correspondent Daryl Lim finds out more.
Daryl Lim
04 Mar 2025
Society
Canada Goose: Why Western brands are not open to returns in China
Commentator Chip Tsao notes that even as Chinese consumers are unhappy about perceived differential treatment by Western high-end brands in terms of returns and refunds, this is due in some part to their penchant for buying items and then easily changing their minds, or returning them after only using them once, perhaps just for selfies for social media. Not to mention the possibility of consumers' irrational nationalism kicking in and the high costs of processing returns, it's no wonder that brands are thinking twice before offering returns.
Chip Tsao
22 Dec 2021
Society
The conspiracy theories behind China's power cuts
Last year, Western media attributed the cause of China's power shortages to the latter's unofficial ban on Australian coal. This year, Chinese netizens and we-media are claiming that power cuts are necessary and a result of "an invisible exchange of swordplay in big country economic competition". Leveraging nationalism and big power competition to garner attention and support is indeed the order of the day. Zaobao journalist Liu Liu explains why Chinese authorities and state media are debunking these conspiracy theories and refusing to ride on the patriotism wave.
Liu Liu
01 Oct 2021
Society
Is Laos mining itself into a crisis?
Despite low global commodity prices, the mining sector in Lao PDR still constitutes a key source of state revenue and an important destination for foreign direct investment, especially from China, Vietnam and Thailand. However, economic development through industrial mining has not translated into employment opportunities for local communities. Rather, the Lao mining sector is marked by a parallel structure of medium- to large-scale mining operations and informal artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), which often operate in a legal grey zone. ASM communities thus suffer from the sector's high social and environmental costs and conflicts with foreign investors over allocated land.
Oliver Tappe
29 Apr 2021
Society
China's serious water woes
Water security is literally a question of life and death. And as one of the most populous nations in the world with a severe lack of water resources, China needs to ensure that its water sources are sustainable and usable. But as Chinese academic Chen Hongbin explains, this is not always easy, despite the country's best efforts.
Chen Hongbin
29 Apr 2021
Society
The emergence of the Chinese "middle-class wannabes" and their race towards a higher social status
China's "middle-class wannabes" live on the margins of a lower-middle class income, leading seemingly glamorous lives, but what goes on behind the scenes is a life laden with tough challenges and insecurities.
Lim Zhan Ting
24 Sep 2019
