Transport

[Big read] From spare parts to world champions: China’s motorcycle shock rise

Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO’s win in the World Superbike Championship has captured international attention towards China’s “Motorcycle Capital” Chongqing. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu speaks with motorcycle enthusiasts and industry insiders to trace the industry’s breakthrough, growth and trajectory.

Liu Liu

08 May 2026

Unravelled: How the Iran war triggers a global realignment

Beyond immediate economic chaos and regional instability, the US-Israeli conflict with Iran is catalysing a historic global realignment. From a fractured Middle East and a widening transatlantic rift to China’s burgeoning influence over energy and diplomacy, the war is forcing allies and rivals alike to redraw the map of 21st-century power, observes US commentator Ian Bremmer.

Ian Bremmer

06 May 2026

Not distracted: Southeast Asia remains firmly in China’s diplomatic orbit

China has kept Southeast Asia in its sights despite other pressing concerns: it seeks to draw Vietnam closer by highlighting their socialist credentials and has reached out to the Philippines despite their differences. Malaysia’s East Coast Railway Line will also bind Southeast Asia closer to China, says ISEAS researcher Lye Liang Fook.

Lye Liang Fook

06 May 2026

From Malacca to Taiwan: China’s chokepoint problem

Asia’s trade flows through a handful of narrow straits. From Malacca to Taiwan, rising geopolitical tensions and security risks are exposing China’s deep dependence on fragile maritime chokepoints, says academic Jasper Verschuur.

Jasper Verschuur

05 May 2026

[Big read] Pinglu Canal: Redrawing China-ASEAN trade routes

The Guangxi’s Pinglu Canal, hailed as the “project of the century”, is expected to open in September, adding a major artery to the region’s access to the sea and seen as a key to unlocking Guangxi’s development. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting finds out from traders, shipping operators and local residents their expectations from the improved connectivity.

Lim Zhan Ting

30 Apr 2026

Can the Gulf-South Asia corridor rewire global trade and energy flows?

The Strait of Hormuz crisis has driven alternative routes, strengthening energy supply chains and boosting cooperation across the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia, while expanding cross-border trade — so the outlook is not entirely bleak despite disruption at Hormuz, says Chinese academic Peng Nian.

Peng Nian

24 Apr 2026

[Big read]: From Kowloon to Shenzhen: The bullet trains redefining Hong Kong life

Rising numbers of young mainland-origin professionals and even Hong Kongers live in Shenzhen for bigger homes at half the price, using high-speed rail to keep Hong Kong jobs — boosting quality of life amid sky-high rents. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing takes a look at the good and the bad of this greater integration between Hong Kong and mainland China.

Tai Hing Shing

11 Feb 2026

Built for chaos: Why China’s robotaxis are streets ahead

Chinese robotaxis — Apollo Go, Pony.ai and WeRide — lead globally by mastering chaotic traffic and keeping costs low, outpacing US rivals Waymo and Tesla as autonomous services expand worldwide. Hedge fund CEO Taylor Lynch Ogan and US academic Chen Xiangming survey the field.

Taylor Lynch Ogan, Chen Xiangming

10 Feb 2026

[Big read] When the Arctic opens, what happens to Singapore?

A thawing Northern Sea Route (NSR) is forcing a rethink of global shipping, promising shorter voyages and lower costs. What this means for Singapore’s role as a maritime hub is now under scrutiny, as Lianhe Zaobao senior business correspondent Lewis Ong Yong Huat speaks to industry insiders and academics to find out more.

Lewis Ong Yong Huat

06 Feb 2026

China’s economy is heading for a rough 2026

Economic growth might look quite bad in the early months of 2026, forcing Beijing to launch more pro-growth policies in the spring, which should help boost growth in the second quarter and later, says analyst Chen Long.

Chen Long

06 Jan 2026

How ‘China Inc.’ is discovering its new world in Brazil

Chinese companies are turning Brazil into their new frontier, from electric vehicles and digital platforms to mining and energy, and navigating local challenges as they chart a daring new chapter in global expansion.

Caixin Global

05 Jan 2026

Simandou mine: How China is driving Guinea’s new model for resource growth

The Simandou mine shows how China and Guinea are redefining resource development. By linking mines, railways, ports and local skills, it offers a new model for sustainable growth, says academic Gu Qingyang.

Gu Qingyang

19 Dec 2025