[Video] Effortlessly beautiful: China’s new obsession with ‘invisible’ cosmetic procedures

Thai Buddhist amulets draw China’s anxious youth — and laundering networks

Thai Buddhist amulets have become a lifeline for anxious young Chinese — and an ideal vehicle for cross-border money laundering, forcing Thai authorities to crack down on the fast-growing amulet trade.

Caixin Global

Why China and the US need each other to compete

Far from heading towards complete decoupling, China and the US remain locked in a relationship where mutual dependence underpins both competition and cooperation, reshaping the future global order, notes academic Tan Kong Yam.

Tan Kong Yam

Why Xi gathered China’s top scientists in Beidaihe

China’s annual Beidaihe retreat has put basic research and frontier technologies centre stage, offering a rare glimpse into President Xi Jinping’s priorities as Beijing seeks breakthroughs in critical technologies. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Chen Jing finds out.

Chen Jing

Is Washington driving global talent towards China?

Washington’s tougher stance on immigration and academia is reshaping the global race for talent. China is seizing the opportunity, but the biggest winners may lie elsewhere, says researcher Parama Sinha Palit.

Parama Sinha Palit

The AI squeeze: No juniors, no seniors, more burnout

As older workers and the very young exit or are not able to even enter the workforce, the “squeezed middle” may have to take on extra burdens. For this group, the AI age might be making work harder, not easier, says NUS academic Weiyi Ng.

Weiyi Ng

Passports surrendered: Inside China’s expanding web of exit controls

China’s new regulations have reignited concerns over who may be prevented from leaving the country. While Beijing says the measures are aimed at safeguarding national security, broad discretionary powers and vague definitions could create greater uncertainty for travellers, says Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu.

Yang Danxu

Is Taiwan’s proposed AI-powered T-Dome shield combat-ready?

Taiwan is leveraging AI to boost its defence capabilities, but it will still face challenges such as China’s robust electronic warfare and cybersecurity capabilities in the event of a Taiwan emergency, says academic Ghulam Ali.

Ghulam Ali

China has a tech boom. So why won’t people spend?

China's AI and manufacturing sectors are booming, but domestic demand remains stubbornly weak. The contradiction, argues Professor Yasheng Huang, is no accident — it is the product of a tech-first policy agenda.

Yasheng Huang

Why China’s biotech rise is harder to contain than AI

China is emerging as a biotech powerhouse, but its rise is entwined with US drugmakers through research, licensing and supply chains, making decoupling far more difficult than in AI. Academic Chen Xiangming and biopharma industry practitioner Leon Tang analyse the situation.

Chen Xiangming, Leon Tang

Why hyper-efficient Singapore is Asia’s most AI-anxious society

A survey across Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and mainland China found Singapore leads the region in AI adoption, but also records the highest levels of anxiety over job displacement, deepfakes and AI dependence. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lee Si Min tells us more.

Lee Si Min

Japan and Taiwan’s strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific

Japan’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy and Taiwan’s expanding diplomatic vision are helping to foster an increasingly aligned approach while avoiding unnecessary confrontation with China. Japanese academic Madoka Fukuda tells us more.

Madoka Fukuda

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

Is Cai Qi China’s real number two?

Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi appears to be Chinese President Xi Jinping’s right-hand man, but depending on whether trust or caution is higher in Xi’s calculations, Cai’s fate will be decided at the 21st Party Congress, says Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

Why China’s universities stopped fighting AI

Having initially sought to restrict the use of generative AI, Chinese universities are increasingly incorporating it into teaching and research. However, institutions are also grappling with difficult questions over authorship, accountability and how to preserve academic integrity in the age of AI, notes Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu.

Liu Liu

Can AI’s sky-high valuations survive disclosure?

As AI giants rush to go public, investors will finally get the disclosures needed to test whether soaring valuations rest on durable business models — or simply another wave of market euphoria. Professor Lin William Cong explains what will separate hype from fundamentals.

Lin William Cong

Why the US-China AI race needs Elon Musk

Despite the controversies surrounding him, Elon Musk may prove to be the unlikely force moderating US-China rivalry and the AI risks it amplifies, says commentator Peter T. C. Chang.

Peter T.C. Chang

Did DeepSeek’s leak hand the US an AI roadmap?

A leaked transcript of DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng’s investor meeting has exposed China’s AI industry’s chip constraints, US pressure and the growing geopolitical risks facing its tech leaders. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk reports.

China Desk, Lianhe Zaobao

Why China’s land routes may fail in a Taiwan crisis

China has built overland routes to reduce its reliance on vulnerable sea lanes. But lessons from Ukraine and Iran suggest cheap drones and long-range strikes could leave those lifelines exposed in a Taiwan crisis, says Italian commentator Emanuele Scimia.

Emanuele Scimia