Taiwan

Why the Philippines and Japan are preparing for a Taiwan contingency

As China’s maritime posture seems to be getting more muscular and the US’s intentions in the Indo-Pacific become less clear, the Philippines and Japan are seeking stronger security relations to safeguard all eventualities. Manila-based analyst Don McLain Gill explains.

Don McLain Gill

08 Jun 2026

China’s new red line: Sanctioning foreign lawmakers over Taiwan visits

Following a visit to Taiwan, four New Zealand MPs have been banned from entering mainland China for one year. Is this truly justified as Beijing feels, or is it an overreaction that signals greater confidence on China’s part? Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei tells us more.

Sim Tze Wei

08 Jun 2026

Japan and Philippines harden stance against China amid US-China detente

As Washington softens its tone on Beijing, Japan and the Philippines are tightening defence ties to counter China, forging a potent middle-power coalition in Asian waters. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong tells us more.

Han Yong Hong

05 Jun 2026

Bilahari Kausikan: Uneasy and fragile China-US truce will not hold forever

Retired Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan warns that the current China-US trade truce is fragile, the US-China summit has not brought substantive changes to the US’s Taiwan policy and the Iran war will not end well. Lianhe Zaobao China news correspondent Edwin Ong notes key points from a fireside chat at the Nomura Investment Forum Asia in Singapore.

Edwin Ong

04 Jun 2026

[Big read] ​After Xi-Trump summit, a jittery Taiwan takes stock

Soon after the US-China summit in Beijing, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te stressed that peace in the Taiwan Strait would not be sacrificed or traded away, and called for Taiwan to bolster its national strength and cooperate closely with Taiwan’s global democratic partners. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han speaks with academics and analyses the situation.

Miao Zong-Han

04 Jun 2026

[Video] Hegseth at Shangri-La Dialogue: Toning down US rhetoric

At the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth seemed to tone down criticisms of China. Does this mean a more pragmatic, prudent approach going forward? Lianhe Zaobao China news correspondent Edwin Ong speaks to experts for their take.

Edwin Ong

02 Jun 2026

Sino-US relations after Xi-Trump summit: Towards a new stability?

If China and the US steadfastly build a “constructive relationship of strategic stability”, they would be well on their way to creating a new paradigm of major-country relations. The Beijing summit showed early signs of the two countries moving towards a more stable path, says Chinese academic Wu Xinbo.

Wu Xinbo

29 May 2026

[Photos] Witnessing history as a Taiwan reporter: Singapore in the 1980s and 1990s

How does a young Taiwanese reporter end up chasing history and love in Singapore? Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao takes a look back at the political engineering and leaders that shaped an era in Singapore, along with his personal ties to the country.

Hsu Chung-mao

29 May 2026

ThinkCartoon (20 May 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

20 May 2026

Trump-Xi summit leaves Taiwan independence camp on edge

Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is reeling after US President Donald Trump, following his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, bluntly warned against any push for independence. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang notes that this signals a potential shift in US policy, forcing Taipei to urgently redefine its cross-strait strategy.

Chuang Hui Liang

19 May 2026

Trump-Xi summit delivers deals — and exposes fault lines

At the US-China Summit in Beijing, while China focused on pushing a “constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability”, the US looked to advance business deals and kept the Taiwan card close to its chest. While both sides want some kind of stability, it is anyone’s guess when the house of cards would topple. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong weighs in on the issue.

Han Yong Hong

15 May 2026

Trump in Beijing: Why even limited success is remarkable

Pomp and pageantry aside, the US-China summit focused on business and trade deliverables, with upbeat atmospherics masking deeper tensions. US academic Zhiqun Zhu explains why even limited progress is notable in a relationship defined by rivalry, mistrust and deep structural tensions.

Zhiqun Zhu

15 May 2026