China’s 21st Party Congress set for major leadership overhaul
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.
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US‑Israel strikes on Iran could reverberate far beyond the Middle East, impacting China’s economy, energy security, regional influence and its ties with the US. While China maintains a cautious diplomatic approach, the unfolding Iran war could also create opportunities for it to gain leverage in its strategic rivalry with the US. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina and Lu Lingming speak with three experts to explore what the Iran war means for China.
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Baseball or diplomacy? Taiwan premier’s Japan trip draws scrutiny
Amid upcoming visits by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to the US and by US President Donald Trump to China, Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai has also made headlines with his trip to Japan for a baseball game. Despite claims of it being a private visit, is there more to it? Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei looks at what signals Taiwan and Japan are giving.
Hormuz crisis: Should China do more to secure global chokepoints?
Even without Iran closing the Hormuz Strait physically, traffic has dropped precipitously causing prices to spike in Asia, says analyst Christian Le Miere. China, one of those heavily affected, may need to do more, with more military power projection, to secure its own interests near the world’s bottlenecks.
big read![[Big read] From Egypt to Russia: Chinese men looking overseas for love](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/thinkchina/7cc234fa5d6e700df16637531c40dda0d0ce633b8a8a8ea824d6766332f274ac?w=800)
[Big read] From Egypt to Russia: Chinese men looking overseas for love
Facing steep bride prices and mounting pressures at home, some Chinese men are finding wives abroad. Three men share how marriages with women from Egypt, Indonesia and Russia reshaped their lives. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei speaks to the couples about their journeys.
South Korea’s ‘pragmatic’ China policy in a vortex of uncertainty
Standing at the crossroads of intense great power politics, South Korea must guard its flanks in the Korea-US alliance, Seoul-Tokyo relations and most tricky of all, Seoul-Beijing relations — all against the background of volatile US-China relations. Can its “pragmatic diplomacy” stand the tests of these trials? South Korean academic Jae Ho Chung explores the issue.
From Nepal to Kazakhstan: Why Chinese students study in unlikely destinations
Amid the fierce competition in China’s higher education, many Chinese youths are choosing to stay off the beaten — and more expensive — path to further their studies in less popular countries such as Nepal and Kazakhstan. However, Lianhe Zaobao journalist Lee Chee Yang finds out that notwithstanding the challenges of language and academic pressure, there is no guarantee of improvement in prospects for these students.
Tu Zhiliang: The man who believes Chinese medicine can save the world
Just as Chinese restaurants thrive wherever there is an ethnic Chinese community, Gu Sheng Tang TCM CEO Tu Zhiliang wants the same for TCM services. Lianhe Zaobao senior lifestyle correspondent Dennis Ng speaks to the wuxia fan with a vision of saving the world through traditional Chinese medicine.
Hormuz closed: East Asia’s energy shock and strategic shift
East Asia stands to be massively affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, given its reliance on just-in-time liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries. Critical will be the way governments diversify their energy resources and maintain power-sector reliability and industrial continuity. Academic Hao Nan looks into the variables.
Should South Korea build the nuclear bomb?
As North Korea advances its nuclear arsenal, Seoul faces a stark choice: develop its own bomb, rely on US deterrence or adopt a nuclear-threshold strategy to safeguard the peninsula. South Korean academic Jaeho Hwang weighs the options.
Why Beijing can’t repeat America’s Maduro raid in Taiwan
America’s 2026 raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro relied on months of intelligence, air dominance and regional deployment. China’s PLA lacks the operational conditions needed to attempt a similar decapitation strike against Taiwan, says Japanese academic Sugiura Yasuyuki.
Armageddon politics and the Iran war
Apocalyptic rhetoric invoked during the US-Israel war on Iran creates a powerful ideological bridge between Israel’s narratives and the mobilisation of American troops, observes academic Ma Haiyun. Such framing and shaping of the civilisational narrative is dangerous as it draws the US deeper into conflicts in the Middle East.
Retiring on 300,000 RMB: China’s youth flee big cities for smaller towns
Amid uncertainty in China’s economic outlook and job market, the American concept of “Financial Independence, Retire Early” has trended among Chinese youth. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang finds out that people are motivated not just by the goal of early retirement, but also by regaining control of their time and life.
Can China win the AI race with cheap power?
China is rapidly building AI data centres powered by low-cost electricity and state-led planning. Yet shortages of top-end chips and misaligned infrastructure risk leaving much of this computing capacity underused. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Liu Sha explains.
China enters the 4% growth era: Stability over speed
Amid rising global uncertainty and frequent international trade frictions, the Chinese government’s lower national growth target reflects its emphasis on stability. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong observes that this eases the pressure on local governments but leaves international investors cautious.
The Buddha’s lesson for robots: Who’s real, who’s not?
The recent showcase of the ability and appearance of humanoid robots during China’s Spring Festival Gala has set off a storm of discussion on whether robots that are indiscernible from humans are welcomed or not. Academic Zhang Tiankan notes that while robots can take over menial work, it must never hold a higher status than humans.
Exoskeletons offer consumer robotics a chance to find its footing
Robotic exoskeletons, or devices that can sense and adapt to users’ movements, providing synchronised assistance to help them walk or climb, are giving consumer robotics a real shot at mainstream success — but will China seize the lead in shaping the future of everyday robots?
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[Photos] One city, one dynasty: China’s travel photography sells dynastic dreams
Across China’s tourist towns, travel photography turns visitors into “ancient beauties”. With costumes, stylists and lighting, cities sell curated dynastic fantasies in which tourists become part of the scenery. Writer Ng Kong Ling reflects on the purpose of travel and photography — to record the world, or express ourselves?
photo story![[Photos] My serendipitous bond with Japanese photographer Koichi Saito](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/thinkchina/280391e16ee5c70c525a8fc1f3af2695f2f91a6030949907923569e68591aba1?w=800)
[Photos] My serendipitous bond with Japanese photographer Koichi Saito
With the aid of rare photos, historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao reflects on his chance encounter with celebrated Japanese photographer Koichi Saito, against the backdrop of a decades-long personal journey in historical photography and publishing.
When donations decide wars: How lobbyists sway US foreign policy
US foreign policy today is greatly influenced by immigration patterns, organised lobbying and campaign finance dynamics, causing huge pendulum swings that have major consequences. Academic Ma Haiyun shares his views.