Transparency

How did a plane breach China’s most protected airspace?

How did a light aircraft manage to get past aviation security in Beijing and crash into a skyscraper, and what does the incident say about the measures taken in China’s capital? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han finds out more.

Miao Zong-Han

30 Jun 2026

[Big read] Inside China’s arts exam shadow market

Behind China’s arts entrance exams lies a costly world of influence and opaque deals, where talent alone rarely secures a place. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Qi Lu speaks to those who have lived through such experiences, and to academics who explain how the system works.

Qi Lu

23 Jun 2026

Zhang Youxia purged: Is Taiwan closer to conflict?

China’s latest military purge spills outwards and will reshape the structure and tempo of risk in the Taiwan Strait, says commentator Deng Yuwen. The major factor is not about the “removal of doves”, but the downgrading of professional judgment within decision-making.

Deng Yuwen

30 Jan 2026

Chinese public questions transparency over delays in deadly accident reports

Delayed official reports of public safety incidents have stirred up public discord. Is the lack of regulations in the timely release of public information an attempt to sweep things under the rug and cover up incidents? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhang Guanghui takes a look at the matter.

Zhang Guanghui

03 Dec 2025

The great wealth migration: Why the ultra-rich are fleeing Britain

Starting on 6 April 2025, the UK will abolish its Non-Domiciled Individuals (non-dom) tax status, a regime that has allowed the super-rich to avoid paying tax on overseas income for up to 15 years. For the ultra-wealthy, the message is clear: the party is over.

Caixin Global

21 Mar 2025

Beyond the stock market: How can China unlock its economic growth potential? 

Academic Gu Qingyang assesses that there is still a lot of room to manoeuvre for China’s policies, and only through a series of structural reforms and stable policy implementation can China unlock its economic growth potential, just as it has recently done so for the stock market.

Gu Qingyang

04 Oct 2024

Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexico’s trade balancing act with China

Achieving a landslide victory, Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum is well poised to handle challenges. But Mexico-China trade relations will still be complicated, says academic Liu Xuedong.

Liu Xuedong

03 Jul 2024

Beijing will stay the course on Southeast Asia despite personnel changes in foreign ministry

Recent top-level changes at China's foreign ministry are unlikely to affect Beijing's foreign policy orientation towards Southeast Asia. The region remains important in light of China's difficult relationship with the US and other key countries.

Lye Liang Fook

16 Aug 2023

China's never-ending battle against corruption

The recent spate of reports about investigations into senior Chinese officials - especially in the military - have prompted questions about what is happening in China. Given the lack of transparency in the Chinese government, it is hard to come to any firm conclusion about what these "fallen tigers" have done, but it is easy to see that corruption is still a major problem in the highly centralised system.

Han Yong Hong

04 Aug 2023

Qin Gang's dismissal: Reflections on the Chinese system

Qin Gang's removal as Chinese foreign minister seems to confirm the rumours about his month-long absence from the public eye, especially since the authorities do not seem to have entirely refuted them. Questions swirl in people's minds, with some asking: is the Chinese system's quality of decision-making in selecting and appointing talents in question?

Han Yong Hong

28 Jul 2023

ThinkCartoon

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

28 Jul 2023

Wang Yi reappointed as Chinese foreign minister: An authoritative figure amid the intrigue

Qin Gang's month-long absence has drawn much attention and speculation, culminating in the authorities' announcement that he has been removed as foreign minister, and Wang Yi reappointed to his former position. Despite the authorities' earlier claims of Qin's "health reasons", there seems to be more than meets the eye.

Yang Danxu

26 Jul 2023