Russia

Drones are cheap — China wants to make killing them cheaper

As cheap drones dominate modern battlefields, China is racing to reverse the cost curve. But unproven tech and mass saturation mean the swarm retains its edge, argues researcher Tahir Mahmood Azad.

Tahir Mahmood Azad

02 Oct 2026

‘Eastern NATO’? China’s real SCO strategy

With growing influence over Russia and Iran, China has greater geopolitical leverage and room to steer the SCO into a bloc that presents an alternative to the Western-dominated order, says academic Alessandro Arduino.

Alessandro Arduino

03 Sep 2026

Ice Silk Road: Russia breaks ice, China builds the market

China and Russia could be the linchpin of the Ice Silk Road, leveraging the Northern Sea Route. With them as the anchor and middle powers providing functional support, the Arctic route just gained more geoeconomic appeal, says academic Hao Nan.

Hao Nan

31 Aug 2026

The Taiwan Strait needs circuit breakers, not just deterrence

Military and coast guard encounters are becoming more frequent in the Western Pacific and around Taiwan, raising the risk that a limited incident could spiral into wider conflict. Deterrence alone is not enough; the region needs safeguards to contain escalation and create off-ramps, says researcher Hao Nan.

Hao Nan

17 Aug 2026

Behind Kim’s nuclear navy and AI lies Beijing

The US sees North Korea as an immediate threat. But behind Pyongyang’s nuclear navy, AI and missile programmes lies a deeper strategic challenge: Beijing’s enduring support, argues researcher Tahir Mahmood Azad.

Tahir Mahmood Azad

28 Jul 2026

Why ASEAN is engaging Putin while the G7 looks away

The Kazan summit highlighted Russia’s emergence as a useful partner for ASEAN and exposed the limits of Western efforts to isolate Moscow in an increasingly multipolar international order. Researcher Ronny P Sasmita examines the situation.

Ronny P Sasmita

30 Jun 2026

A tungsten mine exposes Myanmar’s China-Russia balancing act

Russia’s recent entry into tungsten mining in Myanmar reveals a three-way resource-security triangle: China controls much of the flow, Russia seeks a stake, while Myanmar’s military government is using access to resources as leverage. Academic Hao Nan gives his assessment.

Hao Nan

22 Jun 2026

G7 unity: Europe yields as Trump declares ‘I’m the boss’

At the G7 summit, European leaders went to great lengths to flatter Donald Trump. Yet behind the smiles lies deep anxiety over an unpredictable US and a looming trade war with China. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong tells us more.

Han Yong Hong

19 Jun 2026

ThinkCartoon (17 June 2026)

Heng Kim Song has been the freelance editorial cartoonist for Lianhe Zaobao since 1984. His cartoons are also featured in many major international publications including The New York Times, Asahi Shimbun, JoongAng Ilbo, South China Morning Post and Yazhou Zhoukan. His many awards include the Top Award in United Nations ESCAP’s Cartoon Competition and the Grafica Internazionale Award presented by Italian Museum of Political Satire and Caricature. Heng has also participated in many international exhibitions and events, including the World Economic Forum Annual Meetings held in Davos, Switzerland.

Heng Kim Song

17 Jun 2026

China sidelines denuclearisation to strengthen ties with North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent Pyongyang visit signals a pragmatic shift in Beijing’s policy, tacitly accepting a nuclear-armed North Korea to counter shifting regional alliances. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong tells us more.

Han Yong Hong

12 Jun 2026

Xi in Pyongyang: Opening Asia’s frozen northeast frontier

The clearest signal delivered at Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Pyongyang visit was all in the map, says academic Hao Nan. A northern Northeast Asian corridor linking China’s northeast to the Tumen River, North Korea’s Rason, Russia’s Far East and the Sea of Japan, is now more possible than ever. 

Hao Nan

10 Jun 2026

Is China giving up on denuclearising North Korea?

On his first visit to North Korea in seven years, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke of strategic cooperation, without mentioning denuclearisation, which used to be part of the conversation. Is the topic now off the table, or merely put aside for the time being? Journalist Kang Gwiyoung finds out more.

Kang Gwiyoung

09 Jun 2026