TikTok
Economy
How the US rewired TikTok — without pulling the plug
A forced sale was the headline threat, but what emerged instead was a complex deal reshaping TikTok’s US operations — from board control to data governance — without killing the app. The result could become a template for future platform geopolitics. SMU academic Liang Chen explains.
Liang Chen
24 Sep 2025
Cartoon
ThinkCartoon (23 September)
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
23 Sep 2025
Economy
The TikTok showdown: Can America contain a Chinese tech giant without breaking it?
The TikTok compromise highlights shifting priorities in both Beijing and Washington and reflects the new realities of global tech competition (and possibly cooperation), says US academic Sarah Kreps.
Sarah Kreps
22 Sep 2025
Society
TikTok exodus: Finding refuge and cultural exchange on RedNote
What are the implications of the migration of US TikTok users to Chinese social media platform RedNote in terms of the cultural and technological competition between China and the US? University of Macau graduate students Li Wei and Gao Xueqi discuss the issue.
Li Wei, Gao Xueqi
31 Jan 2025
Society
[Video] RedNote: Bringing Americans and Chinese together
When TikTok was possibly going to be banned, Americans turned to RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, as a form of political protest. What followed was a rapid transformation by RedNote and a historic wave of genuine interactions between Western and Chinese users. But now that TikTok is back, will RedNote fade from Americans’ view? ThinkChina’s Yi Jina explores the shifting dynamics of this digital moment.
Yi Jina
24 Jan 2025
Economy
US-China: Will Trump pull the trigger on 10% tariffs?
During the US presidential inauguration, observers were surprised when Donald Trump did not announce any new tariffs. Soon after, he said that the US is considering a 10% tariff on China starting as soon as 1 February. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Sim Tze Wei seeks analysts’ views on Trump’s likely moves on tariffs.
Sim Tze Wei
22 Jan 2025
Politics
As TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance, users flock to Xiaohongshu
A wave of TikTok users has unexpectedly flooded Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, “taking refuge” in the event that a law that could see TikTok banned in the US is not overturned. Is this a sustainable trend and what lies in store for TikTok? Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu gives her view.
Yang Danxu
15 Jan 2025
Technology
Nvidia caught in the crossfire of China-US tech war
First TikTok, now Nvidia. Both Chinese and US companies are now caught in the crossfire of the China-US tech war. Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu tells us more about how the chipmaker has become a pawn in geopolitical rivalries.
Yang Danxu
13 Dec 2024
Politics
What now for TikTok after the appeals court ruling?
After the federal appeals court made its decision, TikTok still faces a possible ban in the US if it does not divest itself from its parent company by January 2025. Will the Supreme Court intervene and would President-elect Trump issue an executive order when he assumes office? US academic Sarah Kreps weighs up the possibilities.
Sarah Kreps
09 Dec 2024
Economy
[Big read] Chinese sellers embrace TikTok despite US ban fears
Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zeng Shi notes that with the rise of the social media e-commerce business model, TikTok has rapidly expanded its global e-commerce footprint in recent years. Chinese sellers have flocked to the platform to sell their products directly to the world through short videos and livestreams. However, the looming threat of a US ban casts a shadow over their prospects.
Zeng Shi
05 Jun 2024
Cartoon
ThinkCartoon (30 April)
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
30 Apr 2024