Xi Jinping

US President Joe Biden raised hackles with his recent comment about China being a “ticking time bomb”, alongside observations about its economy and unemployment rate. Former journalist Goh Choon Kang examines the question of who is more likely to be a time bomb, and highlights that it serves no purpose for the US and China to be pointing fingers at each other.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech in February criticising the West was recently quoted in a Chinese Communist Party publication, and Lianhe Zaobao journalist Edwin Ong notes that the renewed attention could be intended to strengthen the political consensus among officials and citizens. Meanwhile, Xi’s emphasis on treading a different path from Western modernisation could come at the expense of its economy.

Taiwan academic Tsai Wen-Hsuan looks at the recent removal and disappearances of senior Chinese officials and discusses if these events reflect a shift in political dynamics among China’s high-ups and if President Xi Jinping’s power has been challenged.

It appears that China and North Korea are in a renewed honeymoon phase, with a possible China-North Korea summit on the cards. This may not necessarily be all bad, says Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki.

Chinese ambassador to Singapore Sun Haiyan explains China’s stand on building global security, premised on its recent position papers on the Global Security Initiative and the Ukraine crisis.

Zaobao correspondent Yang Danxu looks at the first press conference by new Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and notes how he has defined the role of the new government as an "implementation team", which will faithfully uphold the authority of the CCP Central Committee and implement the plans of the 20th Party Congress.

Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan looks at the new Chinese government installed over the weekend, noting the gradual weakening of power of the State Council, just as many of President Xi’s close aides are appointed to the executive body. What might this mean for China’s leadership in the future?

Li Keqiang delivered his last government work report on 5 March in his capacity as Chinese premier, a role he had held for a decade. With his departure from the scene comes the retreat of fellow CYL faction cadres, and the retirement of the political leaders of Xi’s generation. Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan has the details.

The 20th Party Congress set the direction for the Chinese Communist Party, but it is the upcoming Two Sessions that measures will be discussed and put into action. The highlight is the likely reforms to national security agencies, as well as finance and other sectors.