Technology

From iPhones to borders: India’s real China dilemma

India-China relations are still marked by deep distrust, but both sides see common interest in working towards better ties along three fronts: trade, investment and boundary issues, says Indian researcher Amit Kumar.

Amit Kumar

30 Sep 2026

Neither exclude nor dominate: The new rules of China-US engagement

Xi Jinping’s US visit points to a new reality: neither China nor the US can exclude, dominate or remake the other. Coexistence is unavoidable, so keeping the rivalry stable will require both sides to manage their differences and learn restraint. Academic Zheng Wang gives his analysis.

Zheng Wang

30 Sep 2026

[Big read] Big Pharma bets billions on China biotech — will Washington pull the plug?

Western drugmakers are pouring billions into China’s fast-growing biotech sector, but the US’s push to scrutinise outbound investment could put one of the few thriving areas of US-China cooperation at risk. Lianhe Zaobao’s senior foreign correspondent Pang Kia Nian finds out more.

Pang Kia Nian

25 Sep 2026

Why China doubts US calls to pause AI

Sentiment among Chinese AI companies that they cannot be sure if American companies are slowing down shows that in AI pacing, credibility is key. Before restraint can become reciprocal, it has to become observable, says Chinese researcher Sun Chenghao.

Sun Chenghao

25 Sep 2026

AI is not the same as nuclear weapons. Can the US and China cooperate?

Unlike nuclear weapons, AI is deeply embedded in economic competition and driven largely by private firms, making it harder for Washington and Beijing to slow its development or verify limits. Cooperation may instead focus on reducing risks, says US academic Sarah Kreps.

Sarah Kreps

24 Sep 2026

What is the worst acceptable outcome for Trump and Xi?

Ahead of their high-stakes Washington summit, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping face a tenuous truce: while tactical deals on trade procurement and AI safety offer temporary fixes, core rifts over Taiwan, tech dominance and rare earths remain fundamentally unresolved. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei speaks to academics to find out.

Sim Tze Wei

23 Sep 2026

How US curbs could split the robot world 

US restrictions on foreign-made advanced robotic devices are unlikely to hurt China in the long term, but a greater concern is the fragmentation of the global robotics industry into competing technological ecosystems, say researcher Songruowen Ma and analyst Tony Zhao.

Songruowen Ma, Tony Zhao

22 Sep 2026

China’s catch-all border laws: A deterrent or cause for unnecessary anxiety?

China’s new border rules aim to deter cross-border crimes. But vague wording and stricter border checks are sparking widespread anxiety among everyday travellers. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Chen Jing explains the ambiguity fuelling public concern.

Chen Jing

22 Sep 2026

Chan Chun Sing: Winning the world requires example, not force

Speaking at the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing urged nations to build trust, embrace interdependence, and lead by the “power of example” to ensure global stability. This is an edited transcript of his speech.

Chan Chun Sing

21 Sep 2026

Will AI drink China’s farms dry?

China’s AI buildout is placing growing demands on scarce water resources in its arid west, raising difficult questions about the competing needs of data centres, farmers, ecosystems and food security. EAI deputy director Chen Gang explains.

Chen Gang

21 Sep 2026

Inside the US$50 billion rise of Moonshot AI

China’s Moonshot AI’s impressive open-weight Kimi K3 model sent shockwaves through the tech world in the last few months, triggering geopolitical rhetoric, a US$50 billion valuation explosion and a cut-throat price war.

Caixin Global

18 Sep 2026

Small wins in an ‘infinite game’: The limits of Xi-Trump talks

Xi and Trump may meet again, but a breakthrough looks elusive. Taiwan, AI and tariffs expose deepening divides, leaving the two powers to manage tensions rather than resolve their rivalry. Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu examines the issue.

Yang Danxu

16 Sep 2026