Trade

The RMB’s offshore revival is real — so are its limits

The RMB has become more useful for trade, treasury management and selected funding transactions within China’s commercial orbit, but this does not mean that it has become a currency that central banks or global investors choose to hold at scale, observes EAI visiting senior research fellow Jason Bedford.

Jason Bedford

01 Oct 2026

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

The road north: From Cambodia’s farms to China

Existing infrastructure is converging into an emerging Cambodia-Laos-China agricultural corridor, bringing farmers into regional trade, observes researcher David Okoronkwo, after weeks of field study in Kratie, northeastern Cambodia.

David Okoronkwo

30 Sep 2026

Vivian Balakrishnan: Upholding the rule of law in a fragmenting world

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan made the case for enduring multilateralism while delivering Singapore’s national statement at the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York on 26 September. He spoke about complying with international law and the norms of multilateralism; reforming existing institutions where needed; and collectively formulating new rules and institutions for new technologies, including possibly establishing a UN Framework Convention on AI Safeguards. This is an edited version of the transcript.

Vivian Balakrishnan

28 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

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

Can Trump-Xi personal diplomacy keep rivalry in check?

Strategic competition between China and the US is here to stay, but frequent engagement between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump could help keep rivalry from sliding into confrontation, while opening new avenues for cooperation on trade, technology and AI. Chinese academic Zhu Feng analyses what is in store.

Zhu Feng

23 Sep 2026

How both sides can claim a win at Trump-Xi summit

The Trump-Xi summit slated for this week is set for a strong start as senior trade officials from both sides wrap up their meeting on a positive note. Lianhe Zaobao China news correspondent Edwin Ong finds out more.

Edwin Ong

22 Sep 2026

Trump-Xi summit: What should Southeast Asia be watching?

The upcoming Trump-Xi summit will not settle any “grand bargain”, but what happens to the year-long US-China trade truce will have implications for Southeast Asia, notes ISEAS researcher Stephen Olson.

Stephen Olson

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

Trump-Xi summit: What can the US and China actually agree on?

US and Chinese officials meet in New York to tackle a range of issues, including trade and AI, laying the groundwork for concrete deliverables for the expected Trump-Xi summit in Washington DC. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu tells us more.

Liu Liu

21 Sep 2026