The tyranny of too much democracy: Confucius’s answer

Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland China and her Sun Yat-sen mausoleum speech mark an attempt to reframe the KMT as a “Taiwanised” party, but the narrative faces scepticism at home as elections loom. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong examines the concept.

The collapse of the last US-Russia nuclear constraints under New START leaves the world’s nuclear guardrails in tatters, raising fears of great power friction and a renewed arms race. As limits fall away, states from Iran to North Korea are reassessing their options. With extended deterrence under strain, ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming and Yi Jina examine how this unravelling nuclear order is reshaping global and regional security.

China is looking more attractive to Asia to fill the shortfalls created by disruptions in the Middle East, from fertiliser supply to energy security. Might this be an opening for Beijing to achieve greater political leverage? US academic John Calabrese examines the situation.

The arrest of a senior associate of alleged crime boss Chen Zhi exposes the hidden machinery behind Prince Group’s empire, as China’s widening crackdown pulls back the curtain on a vast Southeast Asian network of scams, gambling and illicit finance.

As the war in the Middle East continues, China finds itself at an advantage in terms of fertilisers and fuels, and it is up to China to decide what to do with these trump cards. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei looks at the factors at play.

Chinese netizens are waging an online war against secondhand smoke, but with tobacco contributing billions to state coffers, can authorities truly crack down on smoking? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang looks into the issue.

After the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war ends, even if there is a negotiated agreement, the war may not be be over. Lasting peace in the region would mean stabilising Israel-Iran relations and letting countries like China play a bigger role. Chinese academic Fan Hongda shares his assessment.

More than a year into his presidency, US President Donald Trump has played a disruptor role, leaving his mark on every aspect of diplomacy, from military strategy to economic tariffs. A lot of this has to do with Trump’s personality and style. What impact does this have on the Taiwan Strait issues? Academic Ying-yu Lin gives an analysis.

China’s economy has remained largely unaffected by the US-Israel war against Iran, despite China’s strong oil dependence on Iran and its extensive economic ties with the Middle East. US academic Chen Xiangming explains why.

A fragile ceasefire offers little relief as the Hormuz crisis exposes Asia’s deep energy vulnerabilities, pushing China and regional economies to rethink security, supply chains and the rules of integration. Academic Gu Qingyang shares his views.

Observers are carefully watching the potential meeting between the leaders of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party not only for its impact on cross-strait relations, but also the implications for the KMT’s internal power structure. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han takes a look at the significance of this meeting.

Southeast Asia has traditionally preferred not to take sides in the longstanding Sino-US rivalry. A fall in confidence in the US makes this a harder choice to make.

China reaffirmed that it would increase the share of non-fossil fuels in its energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions per unit of GDP under its 15th Five-Year Plan. Achieving this would require a carefully managed transition. Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May assesses how China is striking a delicate balance between decarbonisation, economic growth and energy security.

Chinese AI models have surpassed US’s in global call volume recently, marking a turning point in the global AI development landscape. Chinese technology expert Yin Ruizhi breaks down why Chinese AI companies have been able to leap ahead in such a short time.

American economist Stephen Roach looks at the obsession with stability in both China and the US, and how this can lead to myopic policy decisions that may merely delay consequences rather than address them.

In China’s cities, trainers are bringing the gym to people’s doorstep — turning courtyards into classrooms and fitness into a booming “on-demand” service. But as doubts over income, trust and longevity grow, is this just a fleeting trend?

In an unforeseen political upheaval for Nepal that saw the Rashtriya Swatantra Party win the largest political mandate in modern history, academic Rishi Gupta explores why Balen Shah and his party struck a chord across age groups, and how the new government plans to do a balancing act between India and China.

Recent developments after Meta announced its acquisition of China-founded Manus has put Chinese tech companies on edge. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei notes that the labels attached to people and assets, whether tangible or intangible, are no longer neutral, but sharply defined.