Vietnam
Economy
Pinglu Canal is an alternative, not a game changer for Southeast Asia
China’s new Pinglu Canal promises a shorter route to ASEAN, but its real impact depends on how ships and cargoes fit into existing supply chains, ports and regional trade networks. Commentator Jianbo Wu analyses the situation.
Jianbo Wu
28 Oct 2026
Technology
Southeast Asia’s mixed AI stacks: Pragmatic but not risk-free
Regional initiatives such as Singapore’s SEA-LION and Indonesia’s Sahabat-AI show that Southeast Asia can combine technologies from American, Chinese and regional sources. But mixed AI stacks do not automatically reduce dependence. ISEAS academic Zenobia Chan tells us more.
Zenobia Chan
08 Oct 2026
Economy
[Big read] Can ASEAN continue to reap economic benefits from the US-China rivalry?
Southeast Asia once benefited from China-US rivalry as companies shifted supply chains into the region. Now, tighter US rules are forcing countries to account for their Chinese links — and putting their strategic neutrality to the test. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Zhou Yifei finds out.
Zhou Yifei
06 Oct 2026
Economy
Can Vietnam build an industrial powerhouse of its own?
As Chinese manufacturers accelerate their shift into Vietnam to mitigate US tariff risks, can Vietnam build an industrial ecosystem of its own, or will it remain an extension of China’s manufacturing supply chain? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lee Chee Yang tells us more.
Lee Chee Yang
12 Aug 2026
Politics
Quietly, not silently: How Vietnam deals with China on the South China Sea
Vietnam did not sign the joint statement on the Tribunal Award invalidating China’s claims on the South China Sea. Hanoi’s consistent “speak less, do more” approach combines public restraint with a range of quieter policy tools, observes ISEAS academic Huynh Trung Dung.
Huynh Trung Dung
04 Aug 2026
Politics
Why China rescued Vietnam’s ship in the South China Sea but targets the Philippines
China rescued a Vietnamese vessel in disputed waters even as maritime tensions with the Philippines flared. The contrast reveals Beijing’s South China Sea calculus. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei explains.
Sim Tze Wei
30 Jul 2026
Economy
The durian express: How Southeast Asia flooded China’s market
A flood of Southeast Asian durians has sent prices tumbling in China, making the once-costly fruit affordable for many. But what is driving the drop, and can it be sustained? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu finds out.
Liu Liu
13 Jul 2026
Politics
Aircraft carriers cannot erase Asian civilisational memory
Military superiority can destroy infrastructure, but it cannot erase a people’s past. Historian Wu Guo takes a look at how centuries of collective identity have formed an unbreakable shield against American intervention.
Wu Guo
10 Jul 2026
Economy
Can Vietnam be another China? No.
Drawing on his travels and research, Professor Yasheng Huang examines the striking parallels between Vietnam’s rise and an earlier phase of China’s development, and explains why their political trajectories may ultimately lead to different outcomes.
Yasheng Huang
03 Jul 2026
Politics
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
Economy
[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