Revolution

Is Donald Trump the spiritual heir to Mao Zedong?

While Trump’s policies and political style may be provocative and extreme, they lack the totalising, transformative ambitions of Mao’s Cultural Revolution. The term “American Cultural Revolution” is meaningful only in a metaphorical sense, asserts columnist Deng Yuwen.

Deng Yuwen

China’s ‘involution’ could spur a post-capitalist era (Part 1) 

EAI senior research fellow Lance Gore believes that Chinese official’s call to prevent “involution” highlights the severity of vicious competition among people, companies, localities and countries, which could lead to a transition to a post-capitalist society.

Lance Gore

China's elderly rulers must get used to the young criticising them

East Asian Institute senior research fellow Lance Gore observes that the recent protests in China have highlighted the deep generational gap between the leaders of the country and the protesters. In tandem with the modernisation of society, there needs to be the modernisation of politics, allowing greater room for political participation and dialogue.

Lance Gore

[Photo story] Puyi: The last emperor of China

The tragic life of the last emperor of China has been the subject of much popular culture, not least the movie The Last Emperor. But why was he often thought of as a political puppet and how did he go from emperor to commoner? Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao provides a glimpse into the final period of China's imperial rule.

Hsu Chung-mao

Competition between democracy and autocracy a political fallacy

The US has defined major global events such as the war in Ukraine and its competition with China under the ideological framework of a fight between democracy and autocracy. But is the 21st century world just black and white? Lim Jim Koon, former editor-in-chief of Chinese Media Group, SPH Media, suggests that before we criticise others and demand them to change, maybe we should start by examining ourselves.

Lim Jim Koon

Is Chinese socialism superior?

Although the Chinese Communist Party believes in the great future of socialism, the basic contradictions of socialism that caused the demise of the Soviet Union are yet to be fully resolved in China, says Lance Gore. As a matter of fact, President Xi Jinping's mantra of "returning to the party's original mission" is inadvertently resurrecting some of the same problems that bedevilled classic communism.

Lance Gore

China and Russia's shared interest in preventing a pro-US Kazakhstan

To help quell the current unrest in Kazakhstan, Russia sent troops while China gave only verbal support to Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Despite their different levels of commitment, Russia and China share a common desire not to see Kazakhstan developing closer ties with the US. Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan analyses the situation.

Yu Zeyuan

The Chinese ruling party needs a new pact with the people to forge a more humane and self-confident nation

Lance Gore notes the transitional nature of the third historical resolution passed by the Communist Party of China (CPC) recently. It kept Pandora's box closed, leaving issues of history unresolved. Will the CPC use a fourth historical resolution to build a pact with the people to forge a vibrant, humane, self-confident nation on the world stage?

Lance Gore

How is mainland China planning to achieve reunification with Taiwan, when a common history no longer holds the same significance?

For Beijing, the anniversary of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution on 10 October is replete with political significance, not least as a reiteration of the Chinese Communist Party's mission and an assertion of its one-China stance. But for Taiwan's younger generation, the revolution and even the history of the Republic of China are fast losing their meaning. How will mainland China communicate its thoughts on cross-strait relations as it commemorates the Xinhai Revolution over the weekend? With such different perspectives on the history, present and future of "China", how is mainland China going to achieve its goal of reunification?

Han Yong Hong

Why Myanmar people are wary of a 'pauk-phaw' (sibling) relationship with China

China and Myanmar are said to have a "pauk-phaw" or sibling relationship. Many people in Myanmar, however, are clear-eyed about the limits of the bond. Who are the true beneficiaries of Chinese investment in Myanmar? Why are the people protesting while the higher-ups eagerly sign huge contracts with China and other countries?

Courtney T. Wittekind

Former Singapore FM George Yeo on CCP's centenary: The Chinese revolution continues

George Yeo, Singapore's former foreign minister, shares his thoughts on China's evolution with Lianhe Zaobao on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. He sees the milestone as just a pitstop in the long journey of the Chinese nation. Fresh thinking and innovation will be needed as the country progresses. Equally important, developing a "broad-minded and big-hearted nationalism" which is humble and learns from others will keep China on the path of being a great nation. Here are edited excerpts from the interview.

George Yeo

An apple tree in Shaanxi tells a story: China's quest to eradicate rural poverty

Zaobao correspondent Yang Danxu journeys to Yan'an, northern Shaanxi - the old base of the Chinese Communist Party - ahead of the latter's 100th anniversary on 1 July. She finds that Shaanxi speaks of the wins and woes of China's development in recent years. Despite impressive economic growth, China is grappling with complicated problems such as urban-rural gaps and pockets of poverty in its vast hinterland.

Yang Danxu