China’s quiet brokerage: Can Beijing make the US-Iran truce stick?

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.

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.

​Pakistan, the only Muslim-majority nuclear-armed state, is now a key conduit of the Iran war. Its security ties with Saudi Arabia boost its regional clout, while its links to both the US and China show that in crises, the most important states are not the strongest, but those that other actors can still use.

As AI is increasingly used in military action, how far do we go in letting AI decide who and what to strike? Is human accountability no longer applicable? Lianhe Zaobao associate foreign editor Poh Hwee Hoon tells us more.

In Singkawang, West Kalimantan, writer Teo Han Wue found kindred spirits, a vibrant Chinese community and a chance to witness the colourful culmination of Chinese New Year celebrations there — a spirit-medium parade, known to the locals as Cap Go Meh or Pawai Tatung.

In some sectors, Xinjiang has generally outpaced the national average, but such positive indicators may not align with the actual employment experiences for some groups, especially the minority groups. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang speaks with youths from Xinjiang to find out more.

Our fifth regional series, Eye on Fujian, explores Fujian merchants’ adventurous mercantile spirit, UNESCO-listed Gulangyu, Fujian cuisine’s influence in Southeast Asia, and much more!

One month on, the war in Iran rages on and the Strait of Hormuz remains a chokepoint for trades around the world. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Meng Dandan hones in on the impact on merchants from Yiwu, Zhejiang province — often dubbed the “world’s supermarket”.

From wandering between homes in Malaysia to setting roots in Brunei, one would never have thought that a young rebel with just a toy car to his name would live a life in service of the gods. ThinkChina’s Josephine Hong shares snippets of the life of her father, Richard Hong Kuan Yin.

Ahead of Trump’s visit to Beijing, Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun has accepted Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation to visit the mainland next month, raising questions about whether her peace-politics gambit can unify a divided KMT, navigate internal rivalries and election pressures, and advance cross-strait peace. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang dives into the issue.