Political Systems
Politics
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
Politics
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
Politics
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
Politics
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
Politics
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
Politics
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
Politics
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
Politics
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
Politics
Why Japan and France are trapped in a dangerous leadership deadlock
Japan and France face political deadlock as divided parties and weak governments create a leadership void, threatening democracy and risking a rise in extremism amid global uncertainty. Commentator Chen Kuohsiang looks into the consequences.
Chen Kuohsiang
25 Sep 2025
Politics
Xi’s long game vs Trump’s deals: A clash of global futures
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, leaders of the world’s most powerful nations, embody radically different styles and visions for global order. Their diverging paths, from Xi’s long-term statecraft to Trump’s transactional populism, risk a bleak future if ideological divides persist. US academic Zhu Zhiqun examines this quagmire.
Zhiqun Zhu
09 Sep 2025
Politics
What 3 million suggestions reveal about China’s evolving governance under Xi Jinping
Can public opinion truly shape policy in China — or is it merely a tool to bolster the Chinese Communist Party’s legitimacy? Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explores the issue.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
09 Sep 2025