Political Systems

Prof Daniel A. Bell: Ancient Chinese thoughts asked questions that still matter today

Professor Daniel A. Bell has spent decades studying China, its political system and philosophies. In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao video producer Audrey Jiajia Li, he shares his views about leadership, anti-corruption and Confucian principles.

Audrey Jiajia Li

01 Oct 2026

What kind of superpower will China be?

Chinese President Xi Jinping received the red-carpet treatment in Washington. Whether or not this means that China is increasingly seen as the US’s equal, it is becoming harder for China to avoid the term “superpower”. As it navigates this role, interesting is the way it is extending its socialist legal system as a semi-permeable membrane for selective globalisation. Academic Frank N. Pieke explains.

Frank N. Pieke

29 Sep 2026

Who was the most consequential emperor in Chinese history?

Hint: it is someone you have probably never heard of, who might have played a role in China’s AI takeoff, says Professor Yasheng Huang.

Yasheng Huang

15 Sep 2026

Confucian new tianxia order: Humaneness to restrain nationalism and save globalisation

As the world makes radical swings between nationalism and cosmopolitanism, is there a third way — a Confucian world order ruled by a humaneness-based hierarchy? Academic Tongdong Bai ponders the question.

Tongdong Bai

05 Jun 2026

The politics of mainland spouses in Taiwan

China-born politician Li Chen-hsiu was recently expelled from Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and the Taiwan People’s Party, highlighting the plight of mainland spouses in Taiwan. The existing legal framework provides ambiguity and thus some flexibility, but the status quo is changing under a government that increasingly defines Taiwan in opposition to China. Malaysian academic Ngeow Chow Bing explores the implications of this development.

Ngeow Chow Bing

08 May 2026

Can Trump survive a fourth political assassination attempt?

Reflecting on the assassination attempts against US President Trump, commentator Deng Yuwen argues that institutions once seen as sources of public confidence have weakened, while repeated gunfire in symbolic spaces of power shows external hatred increasingly penetrating the system’s boundaries. This is especially dangerous when the US president becomes a highly symbolic figure embodying political conflict.

Deng Yuwen

28 Apr 2026

The West’s moment ends, a multi-civilisational world rises

Two centuries of Western dominance are giving way to a world shaped by multiple civilisations. China, India and others assert distinct models, signalling a future of coexistence, negotiation and multipolar competition. Professor Tan Kong Yam assesses the future world order.

Tan Kong Yam

27 Mar 2026

When donations decide wars: How lobbyists sway US foreign policy

US foreign policy today is greatly influenced by immigration patterns, organised lobbying and campaign finance dynamics, causing huge pendulum swings that have major consequences. Academic Ma Haiyun shares his views. 

Ma Haiyun

05 Mar 2026

What Trump is really after

Trump’s strategy goes beyond populism, according to US academic Wu Guo, pointing to a larger game that appeases the grassroots while projecting US power.

Wu Guo

18 Nov 2025

Can Hong Kong’s economy thrive under China’s tightening grip?

As Beijing tightens its grip under the national security law, Hong Kong’s vaunted economic freedom faces a crucial test. Academic Toru Kurata examines how the Northern Metropolis plan and a push for high-tech growth could reshape the city’s future.

Toru Kurata

24 Oct 2025

Vietnam’s quiet rise: The new diplomatic bridge to North Korea

Maintaining close ties with China and Russia has always been the cornerstone of North Korea’s diplomacy. However, relying solely on these two powers is not enough to lift the country out of international isolation. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan takes a look at the role ASEAN member states Vietnam and Laos can play.

Yu Zeyuan

10 Oct 2025

Nepal’s youth lead change as India and China watch closely

After the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government following Gen Z protests, Nepal continues to deal with political instability under the interim government. In foreign policy, key neighbours India and China will have to contend with this changed landscape and cash in on how much (or how little) they have put effort into bringing Nepali youth to their side. Researcher Rishi Gupta gives his take on the matter.

Rishi Gupta

01 Oct 2025