Tibet

Nepal’s new guard: How Gen Z fuelled a political sea change

In an unforeseen political upheaval for Nepal that saw the Rashtriya Swatantra Party win the largest political mandate in modern history, academic Rishi Gupta explores why Balen Shah and his party struck a chord across age groups, and how the new government plans to do a balancing act between India and China.

Rishi Gupta

02 Apr 2026

The geopolitics of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation: Where does India stand?

Despite its political and military consolidation in Tibet, Beijing remains concerned about the spillover effects of Tibetan affairs from India and Nepal. This vigilance persists, even as India upholds its longstanding policy on the Dalai Lama and Tibet. Indian analyst Rishi Gupta explains. 

Rishi Gupta

27 Aug 2025

The Dalai Lama’s succession and the geopolitics of faith

As the Dalai Lama prepares for succession, China is gearing up for a battle over spiritual authority and political legitimacy. Outside Tibet and India, only Bhutan, Nepal and Mongolia have significant Tibetan Buddhist followings — but their responses to Beijing’s claims are likely to vary widely, says Indian researcher Amit Kumar.

Amit Kumar

11 Aug 2025

[Photos] Conquest, assimilation and diversity: How minority cultures shaped China 

A lesser-known fact about China is that it is ethnically diverse. Though the nation is predominantly Han Chinese, it is also home to 55 other officially recognised ethnic minorities. Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao tells us more about the history, culture and integration of these minority groups in China.

Hsu Chung-mao

27 Mar 2025

The PLA’s global rise: How will India respond?

During Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US, President Trump hailed a “special bond” with India, launching the transformative COMPACT initiative, including a significant military partnership. With tensions simmering along the Line of Actual Control, India navigates a complex geopolitical landscape, balancing military, strategic tech and AI ambitions with both China and the US.

P. S. Suryanarayana

27 Feb 2025

China’s new mega-dam project draws concerns

China recently announced the construction of a new mega-hydropower-dam that will be situated in Tibet. However, the construction of a dam of this scale has prompted concerns about its impact and potential fallout. Researchers Amit Ranjan and Genevieve Donnellon-May discuss and evaluate the geopolitical, economic and environmental implications of the new dam.

Amit Ranjan, Genevieve Donnellon-May

21 Jan 2025

Nepal’s balancing act: BRI gains and China’s security demands

While Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli made headway on stalled Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects during his recent visit to China, the latter continues to prioritise security and Nepal’s adherence to the “one China” policy, notes Indian academic Rishi Gupta.

Rishi Gupta

11 Dec 2024

China's first half GDP growth: Has the economy bottomed out?

While the latest economic data from China show encouraging GDP growth, taken in context, many provinces are actually seeing slower growth as compared with the first quarter of this year. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Li Kang examines the figures and speaks to economists to find out more.

Li Kang

02 Aug 2023

[Video] Tibet aims to boost tourism but not at the expense of security

Since the relaxation of anti-epidemic measures in China, officials have been ramping up efforts to promote tourism in Tibet. However, the dilemma between cultural preservation and developing the tourism industry, and that between security and economic development, are issues that could curb the autonomous region's opening up to tourists. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Wong Siew Fong shares findings from her media visit to Lhasa and Shannan.

Wong Siew Fong

18 Jul 2023

India's stand on Taiwan crisis: Rebalancing ties with China

Beijing is keen that Delhi should express support for PRC's territorial sovereignty over Taiwan. For India, though, the unresolved Sino-Indian boundary dispute and their ongoing military standoff force a reality check in this relationship. In the absence of a Chinese reciprocal one-India policy, Delhi is messaging that while it will not bandwagon with pro-Taiwan forces, a new template of Sino-Indian ties is required.

P. S. Suryanarayana

29 Aug 2022

Ethnic minority leaders for the Central Committee: Countdown to CCP's 20th Party Congress

Li Cheng, director of the John L. Thornton China Center of the Brookings Institution, analyses ethnic minority representation in the CCP leadership past and present and picks out the ones to watch in the lead-up to the 20th Party Congress.

Li Cheng

26 Aug 2022

A question of human rights: Is China an aggressor and oppressor?

Chinese academic Li Yuehua takes a look at reports on China's human rights record, and analyses whether it really deserves its negative reputation. Hasn't China tried to improve the lives of its people, and isn't the right to survival and development a major part of human rights? He believes that painting China as an aggressor and oppressor only fulfils the interests of a few politicians to the detriment of people-to-people relations between China and the West.

Li Yuehua

08 Jun 2021