How the Iran war is stretching America thin against China

While the Supreme Court ruling on tariffs has put a dent in President Trump’s strategy and the Middle East crisis adds caution, the US’s tariffs wars are far from over. China and other major surplus economies could be vulnerable to new measures. As trade talks continue and China-US industrial relations stay firmly intertwined, says Chinese academic Tao Zhigang, Chinese companies need to transform to survive.

Chongqing has gained a reputation for being a city of layers — in every sense — just waiting to be discovered and savoured. In this era of social media, many influencers have played a part in boosting Chongqing’s popularity. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Liu explores the charm of the city.

While China has outlined an expansionary macroeconomic strategy, researcher Amit Kumar dives into the fiscal data that show the severe limitations of China’s fiscal capacity, such as a declining national budget revenue and high debt burden.

The turmoil stirred up by the Iran crisis is causing havoc in the global economy. But despite the US’s best efforts to deny China’s access to key energy supplies, Beijing seems to be coping with the crisis better than expected, not only because of its stockpile reserves, but also because of its quiet diplomacy. Resilience over raw force appears to be winning as the conflict drags on, observes Alicia García Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis.

Beijing urges the media to “sing loudly” about growth, but empty malls, job struggles and property woes show confidence must rest on real economic fundamentals, not rhetoric, says Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu.

He Dong, AMRO chief economist, tells Lianhe Zaobao business editor Shen Yue how US tariffs could push ASEAN to tear down trade barriers, integrate payment systems, coordinate resources and move up the industrial value chain. This conversation is part of Lianhe Zaobao’s Future 365 interview series.

Israel has catalysed a US-led campaign against Iran, aiming to reshape regional power, while China stays defensive. Can Beijing maintain its equidistant stance, protect energy and supply chains, and avoid being drawn into the conflict? Middle East Institute-NUS fellow Jing Lin analyses the situation.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visits to China and the US reflected Germany’s considerations of navigating the two superpowers, while maintaining Germany’s own interests in terms of economy and international relations. Japanese academic Yuichi Morii gives his analysis.

When DJI CEO Frank Wang’s undergraduate project failed, most would have turned him away. But Professor Li Zexiang, a leading innovator in China’s engineering education, recognised his potential and took him under his wing. Han Yong May, deputy editor-in-chief of SPH’s Chinese Media Group, sits down with Li as part of Lianhe Zaobao’s Future 365 interview series, to find out how his new engineering education system is building a new generation of engineers.

China is unifying its space activities into a unified national ecosystem as it moves beyond mission-specific exploration to industrialisation and ecosystem building. Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains how economic pursuits align with the strategic shift in how China views its role in the global space order. 

US President Donald Trump has drawn various comments and views for launching an offensive on Iran, leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Now, Trump is asking China and other countries to help by sending military ships to escort other vessels. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting tells us more.

The war in Iran is reinforcing the Takaichi administration’s push to revise Japan’s security strategy, pursuing AI-driven combat systems, drone defence and counterstrike capability amid fears of a widening global war. Writer Foo Choo Wei notes that such moves could worsen the regional security environment while placing new fiscal and economic strains on Japan.

Amid the onslaught of AI, how do we preserve our humanity? Anthropologist Xiang Biao speaks with Lianhe Zaobao associate editor and Fukan editor Woo Mun Ngan as part of Lianhe Zaobao’s Future 365 interview series, saying the best way to stay human is to focus on the present and appreciate what surrounds us.

Even as SpaceX’s Starlink dominates the low-Earth orbit sphere, China’s satellite ambitions are accelerating. As Beijing races to catch up amid new frontiers like orbital AI computing rising, can it close the costly gap in reusable rocket technology in time?

Newsrooms in China are increasingly feeling the squeeze with the advent of AI-generated content (AIGC). This not only calls into question job functions, but the overwhelming influence of deep tech and tech giants, and an erosion of the agenda-setting role of the media. Chinese media commentator Ni Tao discusses the issue.

The recent National People’s Congress passed the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, which requires Mandarin to be prominently featured whenever minority languages are also used. Would this open the door to other similar regulations in future, where minorities have to assimilate to show loyalty? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yush Chau finds out more.

Relaxed immigration policies and shifting geopolitical dynamics have ushered Japan into the “era of one million overseas Chinese”. Writer Foo Choo Wei discovers that amid shifts in policy and deteriorating China-Japan relations, these Chinese migrants must balance good neighbourliness while preserving their culture and language.

Analysing with data the likely extent of leadership renewal at the 21st Party Congress in 2027, academic Li Cheng and research assistant Du Lang of the Centre on Contemporary China and the World in Hong Kong find that except for General Secretary Xi Jinping, a massive shakeup is expected, and the longstanding practice of age limits will still play a big factor.