big read![[Big read]: From Kowloon to Shenzhen: The bullet trains redefining Hong Kong life](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/thinkchina/6e946df023b8ddba111d1088fa2dcb5180348ee0cd5eef59595e676d7ca7e2e0?w=800)
[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.
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As the Year of the Horse approaches, two horse-themed toys, one born of a factory error and the other inspired by museum art, have become unlikely favourites ahead of the Chinese New Year.
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big read![[Big read] Why Singapore’s Malay travellers are falling for China](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/thinkchina/e769c4690dfe0e153408a4add13af4aa12aaecdbff5fce8186409bbd07b5fce2?w=800)
[Big read] Why Singapore’s Malay travellers are falling for China
From halal hotpot in subzero winters to TikTok-fuelled city breaks, Malay Singaporeans are finding a China that upends long-held assumptions — warmer, cheaper and far more welcoming than imagined. Lianhe Zaobao senior writer Wang Hwee Wen finds out more.
How Takaichi’s landslide win will shape Japan’s China and ASEAN ties
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) landslide victory gives Takaichi political stability and a strong mandate, enabling her to press Beijing, mend ties and strengthen engagement with ASEAN while balancing US alliance priorities. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tan Jet Min reports.
Can India move beyond faltering US ties?
Amid a US-China detente, India finds itself in a serious pursuit of “multipolarity” in the international system. But this still needs to be underpinned by strong defence relations with the US. Indian analyst Rahul Jaybhay explores the issue.
From canteens to guesthouses: China unlocks idle state property
Across China, local government canteens, state guesthouses and more state-run facilities are opening up to the general public. Not only are these places well received by the people, the move also helps generate revenue for local governments and makes use of spaces that would otherwise be idle. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Meng Dandan finds out more.
Trump’s bluster, Xi’s subtlety: Reading the G2 call
The Xi-Trump call highlighted the stark contrast between US President Donald Trump’s brash style and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s measured diplomacy, with Taiwan and G2 dynamics taking centre stage as the world watched closely. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong gives her take.
big read![[Big read] When the Arctic opens, what happens to Singapore?](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/thinkchina/da65edebca34645c711c55e83e9877109b3c53847ebb1305573974651df1d13a?w=800)
[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.
![[Video] The real danger behind China’s military purge](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/thinkchina/517650786da25af6d961bd35a0e71298c0a954704cefd475d4925e5b89f91c90?w=800)
[Video] The real danger behind China’s military purge
China has purged nearly its entire top military leadership. While debate centres on whether this accelerates or delays a Taiwan conflict, the more consequential question may be how risk is structured, assessed and misread. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina finds out more.
How gutter oil became a prized fuel for international airlines
Once scorned as a public health hazard, China’s notorious “gutter oil” or used cooking oil (UCO) has been recast as one of the world’s most sought‑after feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel — fetching prices higher than conventional jet fuel as airlines rush to cut carbon and meet global mandates.
Takaichi’s gamble: Can charisma carry Japan?
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi has called a surprise election, betting her personal appeal and high approval ratings can rally voters, check the opposition and secure a mandate to steer Japan through uncertainty. Academic Zhang Yun gives his analysis.
China bans ‘sexual mentor’ for women — but more are popping up
A viral clip of Zhou Yuan, a Chinese “sexual mentor” for women, has shed light on a booming industry that empowers women to use their sexuality to attract men. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk takes a look at society’s and authority’s reactions to these grey-zone content.
Shadow banking under fire: AVIC Trust’s collapse
Trust companies in China have become a major source of financing outside the banking system. AVIC Trust’s failure shows how weak oversight, high-risk lending and a slumping property market can bring even state-owned institutions down. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang tells us more.
The side war against a not-yet-ready China
Avoiding a direct clash with Beijing, US President Donald Trump is exploiting China’s unfinished rise — pressuring its energy suppliers, trade partners and allies to constrain its growth before it can defend its global interests, says Italian commentator Emanuele Scimia.
Japan’s entertainment dilemma: Navigating China’s cultural clampdown
The strained political relations between China and Japan have a far-reaching impact, not least the entertainment industry. Japanese academic Seio Nakajima takes a look at the recent difficulties in Japan-China cultural exchanges and how Japanese businesses should move forward.
big read![[Big read] Can Shanghai turn ‘vulgar’ micro-dramas into premium entertainment?](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/thinkchina/8f47106d1d9138ab2b904865f3648a07b06d2ee6613d370c5fd39cf5da6c0f79?w=758)
[Big read] Can Shanghai turn ‘vulgar’ micro-dramas into premium entertainment?
Micro-dramas are often seen as crass, quick-hit entertainment across China and beyond. Now, Shanghai’s International Short Video Center and its production park aim to elevate them, transforming bite-sized hits into premium storytelling. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang speaks with industry insiders to explore their plans.
Does socialist North Korea have any friends left?
As Pyongyang leans ever closer to Moscow, its relations with China and other socialist states remain strained. With sanctions, nuclear tensions and diverging interests, North Korea’s circle of friends is narrowing fast. Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki gives his analysis.
Replacing the UN? Trump goes too far
US President Donald Trump’s mafia-style intimidation, extortion and coercion are finally forcing countries to act, with traditional allies leading the revolt. Former journalist Goh Choon Kang explains why Trump’s Board of Peace has hit a dead end before it even takes off.
Four ways the US could take Greenland — and what it means for China and Russia
Greenland’s attributes as an elevated platform for early warning, space tracking and North Atlantic control explain the naked truth behind the US’s desire to get Greenland. Out of the possible scenarios that this could happen, academic Hao Nan thinks that expanded access under Danish sovereignty, i.e. the Okinawa Model, is the most realistic option.