Built for chaos: Why China’s robotaxis are streets ahead

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Beijing’s espionage operations in Taiwan are expanding beyond the military to journalists and civilians, using intermediaries and digital tools to map networks and prepare for governance after potential reunification. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han tells us more about what these developments mean for Taiwan.

Framed as a national security win, the TikTok deal stops short of decoupling, embedding Chinese participation in US-controlled structures. US academic Sarah Kreps examines the deal and its consequences.

Canada is recalibrating its foreign policy toward economic interests, flexible coalitions and Asian partners. Engagement now trumps alignment — even as dependence on the US sets firm limits, says researcher Diya Jiang.