Politics

Double Tenth speech: A softer Lai, but no thaw across the Taiwan Strait

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s Double Tenth Day address prioritised economic relief over cross-strait policy. Academics told Lianhe Zaobao’s Taipei correspondent Lai Oi Lai that the speech is a cautious move to calm tensions with Beijing and win domestic voters.

Lai Oi Lai

12 Oct 2026

Shifting tides: Why global approval is swinging from US to China

China is surging past the US in global approval ratings from Latin America to Southeast Asia. Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu explains why Beijing’s popularity stems less from shared ideological values and more from growing dissatisfaction with US foreign policy.

Yang Danxu

07 Oct 2026

From Soviet autonomy to a Chinese melting pot: Why China wants ethnic unity now

Looking at China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress from the angle of the evolution of ethnic politics in China, it is not a sudden change but part of continuous efforts to eradicate ethnic discrimination, promote equality and in fact, to emulate the US’s “melting pot” model, says academic Enze Han.

Enze Han

07 Oct 2026

Are China and Indonesia model Global South partners?

China and Indonesia are partnering to reshape the world order as key members of the Global South amid a deteriorating Western liberal order and weakened US leadership. However, ISEAS researcher Lye Liang Fook notes that their differing national interests would limit the relationship.

Lye Liang Fook

07 Oct 2026

Trump-Xi summit: India need not fear a G2 — yet

The Trump-Xi summit produced neither a US-China G2 nor major deals at India’s expense. But regular engagement between Washington and Beijing could reshape the strategic triangle — and leave New Delhi wondering where it fits. ISAS academic Ivan Lidarev gives his analysis.

Ivan Lidarev

07 Oct 2026

The world has passed peak Trump

Donald Trump’s global and domestic influence may be fading, but commentator Ian Bremmer notes that AI could remain the one domain where his capacity to disrupt the world order continues to grow.

Ian Bremmer

06 Oct 2026

Taiwan wants nuclear energy back, but can it overcome the hurdles?

Ahead of Taiwan’s November referendum on nuclear power, momentum is building in favour of nuclear energy, even within the ruling DPP, in view of Taiwan’s energy needs amid an AI and semiconductor boom. Taiwan-based researcher Ghulam Ali shares his analysis.

Ghulam Ali

06 Oct 2026

[Big read] Can ASEAN continue to reap economic benefits from the US-China rivalry?

Southeast Asia once benefited from China-US rivalry as companies shifted supply chains into the region. Now, tighter US rules are forcing countries to account for their Chinese links — and putting their strategic neutrality to the test. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhou Yifei finds out.

Zhou Yifei

06 Oct 2026

APEC Summit: Can Beijing pull off a Trump-Xi-Putin meeting?

Bringing together the leaders of China, Russia and the US during the APEC summit in November is one thing, but getting them to the same negotiating table is another. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei takes a look at how Shenzhen could become host to high-stakes diplomacy.

Sim Tze Wei

05 Oct 2026

Popular at home, friction abroad: The limits of Japan PM Takaichi’s appeal

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s leadership style has won over the public, but navigating relations with China and building trust with world leaders remains her toughest test. Japanese academic Shin Kawashima analyses the first year of her premiership.

Shin Kawashima

05 Oct 2026

What ‘road warrior’ Xi’s overseas trips reveal about his health

​​​​There has been speculation about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s health following his overseas trips. Examining TV footage of Xi’s gait and walking posture in India and the US, Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai offers some observations about possible correlations to the state of the leader’s health.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

02 Oct 2026

In Singapore, a woman knew her harasser. In China, 20 women never met theirs

Who should stop an online crowd? Singapore’s new Online Safety Commission helps victims get harmful posts taken down and find out who harmed them. China’s draft Anti-Cyberviolence Law would make platforms slow a crowd turning on someone before anyone complains. Victims need both, argues academic Ashton Ng. Platforms see the crowd first and should act first. But the crowd is made of individuals, and each of us can refuse to join it.

Ashton Ng

02 Oct 2026