Politics

Order amid chaos: China’s case as the world’s steady hand

As war, protests and political strain batter the US, Russia and Europe, Hong Kong commentator Lew Mon-hung argues that Xi Jinping’s leadership has made China a stabilising force in a turbulent world.

Lew Mon-hung

02 Nov 2026

Missing cadres, absent slogans: Decoding China’s fifth plenum

China’s fifth plenum offered few clues about succession, but its low attendance, continuing military vacancies and conspicuous omission of familiar political slogans reveal much about the state of Xi Jinping’s party and the challenges ahead of the 21st Party Congress in 2027. EAI researcher Zhou Na gives her analysis.

Zhou Na

02 Nov 2026

China’s pandemic film hits theatres — but the Covid wound is still raw

Six years after filming wrapped, a movie about the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan is finally hitting cinemas. However, this patriotic tribute to resilience has reopened painful memories for some people. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk takes a look.

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

02 Nov 2026

From meme to a PR crisis: How footballer Mbappé crossed China’s red line

A misjudged joke which ended up linking footballer Kylian Mbappé to Mao Zedong triggered a public relations crisis. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei explains how this episode sends a stark signal about the boundaries of political satire and Chinese market power.

Sim Tze Wei

29 Oct 2026

Why Brazil cannot afford to choose between China and the US

Brazil’s deep economic ties with China and strategic relationship with the US limit its room for manoeuvre. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s re-election leaves Brasília facing the challenge of balancing both powers without choosing sides. Lianhe Zaobao’s associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei examines the issue.

Sim Tze Wei

29 Oct 2026

[Big read] Satire, deepfakes and virtual voters: AI enters Taiwan’s election race

AI has made its way into Taiwan’s local elections with AI-generated satire videos and virtual party spokespersons. Lianhe Zaobao Taipei correspondent Lai Oi Lai examines whether AI can sway voters and how Taiwan can manage AI risks without curbing free speech.

Lai Oi Lai

29 Oct 2026

What the rise of post-70s provincial officials reveals about CCP succession

A new wave of post-70s technocrats is expected to fill China’s top provincial government posts. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei examines what their rise reveals about the CCP’s evolving rules for top political succession.

Sim Tze Wei

28 Oct 2026

Can North Korea’s border bridges unlock Northeast Asia?

New bridges link North Korea more closely to China and Russia, but old rivalries and security tensions continue to divide Northeast Asia. Could better connectivity open new economic opportunities, or deepen existing geopolitical fault lines? Analyst Hao Nan explains.

Hao Nan

27 Oct 2026

From food to official scandals: Chinese we-media expose what state media doesn’t

Independent online investigators in China increasingly expose official misconduct and food safety scandals, areas where mainstream media falls short. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Zhang Guanghui explores their rising influence, risks and motives.

Zhang Guanghui

26 Oct 2026

Beyond anti-corruption: Xi Jinping’s next push to tighten control over China’s officials

As the Chinese Communist Party prepares for its Fifth Plenum, the leadership is looking beyond its anti-corruption campaign to tighten discipline, enforce political loyalty and rein in bureaucratic dysfunction. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong gives her analysis.

Han Yong Hong

23 Oct 2026

America’s socialist surge and its hard limits

Socialism is gaining ground in the US, fuelled by anger over inequality and economic insecurity. But can its rising popularity translate into lasting political influence across the country? US author and academic Michael Kazin sheds light on the issue.

Michael Kazin

23 Oct 2026

Building lifelines: North Korea’s China-Russia tightrope

Recurring rumours of Kim Jong Un’s death mask a quiet geopolitical shift on North Korea’s borders where new bridges with Beijing and Moscow reveal Pyongyang’s calculated survival strategy. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei examines the matter.

Sim Tze Wei

22 Oct 2026