Social Media

Did DeepSeek’s leak hand the US an AI roadmap?

A leaked transcript of DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng’s investor meeting has exposed China’s AI industry’s chip constraints, US pressure and the growing geopolitical risks facing its tech leaders. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk reports.

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

31 Jul 2026

[Video] Effortlessly beautiful: China’s new obsession with ‘invisible’ cosmetic procedures

Why are millions of Chinese paying for cosmetic procedures that nobody is supposed to notice? The pursuit of “natural beauty” is reshaping the country’s booming medical aesthetics industry. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina finds out more.

Yi Jina

31 Jul 2026

[Big read] Shopping over politics: How Chinese goods are winning over South Koreans 

South Koreans youths are embracing Chinese brands — from bubble tea and electric cars to robot vacuums — separating politics from life products. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Kang Gwiyoung finds out why and if this could lead to improved China-South Korea relations.

Kang Gwiyoung

27 Jul 2026

China’s underground market for anti-corruption leaks

Self-media accounts by insiders have turned anti-corruption leaks into a profit-making industry, prompting a nationwide push to curb a new form of political information leakage. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Zhang Guanghui finds out more.

Zhang Guanghui

24 Jul 2026

[Video] China made it to the World Cup, just not on the pitch

China’s men’s football team is once again absent from the World Cup, but China is visible almost everywhere else around the tournament. ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming looks at how China made it into the World Cup economy, even as its team remains off the pitch.

Lu Lingming

17 Jul 2026

[Video] ‘Bullying our ancestors’: Why Chinese netizens are boycotting LV

A seemingly ordinary trademark dispute between Louis Vuitton and Chinese milk tea chain Molly Tea has escalated into a wider debate over intellectual property and cultural ownership. As backlash builds, with many even calling for LV’s trademark to be revoked, the case has become a broader reckoning on how cultural motifs should be protected in a modern commercial world.

Yi Jina

14 Jul 2026

Too fast to censor: How online rage is turning on China’s elites

From singer Han Hong to China’s ambassador to India, recent online backlashes reveal how China’s attention economy can turn public frustration into viral outrage before regulators are able to respond. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong tells us more.

Han Yong Hong

10 Jul 2026

[Big read] Too ‘cool’ to resist: China’s soft power captivates Taiwan’s youth

From TikTok trends to Chinese apps and pop culture, Beijing’s soft power is gaining traction among young Taiwanese, raising fresh questions over identity, influence and cross-strait competition. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lai Oi Lai and journalist Zhang Guanghui find out more.

Lai Oi Lai, Zhang Guanghui

01 Jul 2026

How did a plane breach China’s most protected airspace?

How did a light aircraft manage to get past aviation security in Beijing and crash into a skyscraper, and what does the incident say about the measures taken in China’s capital? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han finds out more.

Miao Zong-Han

30 Jun 2026

Sold by the kilo: China’s pet protection blind spot

Celebrity dog Chutou was stolen and sold to a dog meat restaurant in China, with the thieves and the slaughterer nonchalantly and unapologetically offering compensation. Will this start a new awareness of animal rights? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang gives her views.

Li Kang

22 Jun 2026

[Video] Dear You: How grassroots authenticity wins over Chinese filmgoers

A small Chaoshan dialect film, made on a tight budget with no celebrities and minimal marketing, went on to gross over 1.6 billion RMB at the box office, outperforming a wave of expensive, star-studded blockbusters. Chinese audiences shared positive word-of-mouth on social media, describing it as a “slow-cooked” film that offers a sincere and understated portrayal of ordinary lives. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina explores the factors behind Dear You’s strong resonance with viewers.

Yi Jina

17 Jun 2026

[Big read] Why China’s viral cities rise fast and fade faster

As local governments in China bank on becoming the next viral sensation to revive local economies, experts warn that turning short-term internet hype into sustainable growth is a steep climb. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zeng Shi tells us more.

Zeng Shi

17 Jun 2026