Ukraine

G7 unity: Europe yields as Trump declares ‘I’m the boss’

At the G7 summit, European leaders went to great lengths to flatter Donald Trump. Yet behind the smiles lies deep anxiety over an unpredictable US and a looming trade war with China. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong tells us more.

Han Yong Hong

19 Jun 2026

How China sustains the illusion of equality with Russia

Amid its meetings with US and Russian leaders, academic Marcin Kaczmarski observes that China holds a firm upper hand in its relations with Russia, while continuing to massage Russia’s great-power ego.

Marcin Kaczmarski

22 May 2026

Let the woman rule: How Takaichi became Japan’s symbol of change

Voters rallied behind Japan’s first female prime minister, seeing Takaichi not just as a Liberal Democratic Party leader but as a figure to challenge the old order and bring unprecedented change to politics and policy. Academic Shin Kawashima takes a look at the factors that led to the election outcome.

Shin Kawashima

27 Feb 2026

[Big read] The world recarved under the Donroe Doctrine

US President Donald Trump’s revival of hemispheric dominance and the dramatic Venezuela intervention signal a rupture in global norms, as global powers weigh their next moves and NATO faces uncertainty. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhou Yifei reports.

Zhou Yifei

21 Jan 2026

Why Putin won’t end the war

While the rest of the world urges an end to the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unyielding in continuing the offensive. Commentator Jin Jian Guo looks into the reasons for Putin’s refusal to back down.

Jin Jian Guo

24 Dec 2025

Greater China-Russia strategic alignment links two ‘battlefields’ of Eurasia

Although the Russia-Ukraine war and Taiwan Strait situations are different, strategic alignment between China and Russia on issues involving Japan and the “one China” principle during critical moments means there is room for linkages and even mutual restraint between the two “battlefields” in Eurasia, observes Lianhe Zaobao’s associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei. 

Sim Tze Wei

04 Dec 2025

How Trump’s ‘peace plan’ could corner China in East Asia

Trump’s leaked ceasefire blueprint for the Russia-Ukraine war is alarming to Europe but carries even bigger stakes for Beijing. A revived Russia could mean that its economic tether to China is loosened, while a US pivot to Asia could deepen China’s tensions with Japan and heighten pressure around Taiwan. Researcher Eka Khorbaladze explains.

Eka Khorbaladze

25 Nov 2025

Inside Xi Jinping’s push to reshape global governance

China’s recently unveiled Global Governance Initiative (GGI) differs from earlier calls to reform the global order in terms of the scope and drive for change. Beijing now seeks a leading role on the world stage either with the US playing a diminished role or without the US. But global reception to the GGI hinges on Beijing matching its words with action.

Lye Liang Fook

19 Sep 2025

Europe’s ‘final battle’

Europe faces a crucial crossroads: overcome strategic passivity, assert its autonomy and shape its future — or risk being sidelined in global conflicts and losing control over its destiny. Chinese academic Chu Zhaogen assesses the state of play.

Chu Zhaogen

15 Sep 2025

The Washington summit on Ukraine: A performance of peace?

Trump’s recent Ukraine summit created diplomatic channels and framed new ideas, but fell short on real progress. Without clear security guarantees, enforceable terms and strong sanctions, the meeting risks being more show than substance — leaving Russia unchecked, Ukraine vulnerable and China leveraging the conflict for strategic gain. Negotiations expert Aurélien Colson explains.

Aurélien Colson

26 Aug 2025

Trump’s summits: Where power spoke louder than peace

Multiple talks for peace in Ukraine were held over the past week, with Trump firmly in the driving seat and European leaders looking largely ineffective. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong notes the impact of the talks on other countries, including China.

Han Yong Hong

22 Aug 2025

China: The powerful outsider missing from Russia-Ukraine talks

China is notably absent from high-profile Russia-Ukraine negotiations, yet its influence on the conflict’s outcome is undeniable. What explains this paradox of power from the sidelines? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Sim Tze Wei notes the intriguing position of China in current world affairs.

Sim Tze Wei

21 Aug 2025