Security
Politics
Iran misread what China meant by ‘strategic partner’
Iranians have long considered how China would act in a crisis involving the US and Israel. It got its answer in the recent Iran war, where it has had to lower its expectations and extract practical gains from China, observes Iranian analyst Mohammad Khatibi.
Mohammad Khatibi
11 Aug 2026
Society
Passports surrendered: Inside China’s expanding web of exit controls
China’s new regulations have reignited concerns over who may be prevented from leaving the country. While Beijing says the measures are aimed at safeguarding national security, broad discretionary powers and vague definitions could create greater uncertainty for travellers, says Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu.
Yang Danxu
05 Aug 2026
Politics
Japan and Taiwan’s strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific
Japan’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy and Taiwan’s expanding diplomatic vision are helping to foster an increasingly aligned approach while avoiding unnecessary confrontation with China. Japanese academic Madoka Fukuda tells us more.
Madoka Fukuda
04 Aug 2026
Politics
Has China really ‘won’ in the Iran war?
The Iran war has boosted China’s leverage in the energy sector and deepened its commercial presence in the Gulf. But states in the region want China to be a more proactive stakeholder, a role Beijing may not be ready to take on, says researcher Jing Lin.
Jing Lin
30 Jul 2026
Technology
How China split Silicon Valley over AI
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang’s push for open-weight AI has generated fierce debate in Silicon Valley. Behind the divide lies China’s rapid AI advance, reshaping competition, security concerns and Washington’s AI strategy. Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu gives an analysis.
Yang Danxu
29 Jul 2026
Technology
China’s real space race is not against SpaceX
China’s recovery of a Long March 10B orbital-class rocket booster shows it is starting to achieve reusability. Once it can launch satellites at lower cost and replicate it, it can control the orbital economy, observes technopreneur Akhmad Hanan.
Akhmad Hanan
22 Jul 2026
Politics
Why Britain nationalised British Steel despite Chinese outrage
The UK’s nationalisation of British Steel has drawn sharp criticism from China, but the dispute goes beyond one company. It reflects a broader shift in which national security increasingly outweighs market logic in shaping global investment decisions, says Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu.
Yang Danxu
22 Jul 2026
Politics
As China moves forward, America turns backward and inward
Comparing the US and Chinese presidents’ recent narratives, it is clear that China keeps moving forward as a confident global leader, while an insecure Trump is taking America backward, says US academic Zhiqun Zhu.
Zhiqun Zhu
21 Jul 2026
Economy
Who governs food security now? Why Beijing’s answer matters most
Global food governance is increasingly dispersed across overlapping institutions and frameworks. Few countries are better positioned than China to bridge them, but whether Beijing chooses to do so remains the defining question, says researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
10 Jul 2026
Politics
What China’s submarine missile test reveals about its nuclear strategy
China’s submarine launch shows that Beijing intends to remove strategic vulnerability before accepting strategic constraint. But showing its ability for a second-strike capability does not guarantee stability in Asia, says academic Hao Nan.
Hao Nan
09 Jul 2026