China’s illusion of influence in the Middle East

Takaichi’s landslide win and Japan’s hardline turn are not just Tokyo’s story. In Beijing, it gives hardliners moral cover, reframes tension as destiny and turns miscalculation into a dangerous new logic for East Asia. Commentator Deng Yuwen analyses the situation.

Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party supermajority accelerates decisive policy while triggering three reinforcing cycles: the “Takaichi-isation” of governance, rightward policy drift, and rising strategic risks at home and abroad, says academic Hao Nan.

China is becoming harder to ignore in the Middle East. Yet the gap between economic presence and strategic power remains wide, even as American policy swings, argues US academic John Calabrese.

Though cultural differences can divide, food and drink have the ability to transcend boundaries and bring people together, says Southern Weekly journalist Li Changsheng. He discusses the experience of living in Japan as a Chinese person, and how the simple jiaozi can convey identity and meaning.

Chinese tourists often spark debate in global travel circles: admired for their spending power, yet frequently criticised online for behaviour such as cutting queues or littering. ThinkChina’s Yi Jina and Lu Lingming speak with foreign travellers and mainland Chinese tourists about how these images are formed and how fair they are.

Trump exposes America’s deep political and strategic dysfunction. His disruption could either spur institutional renewal and recalibration — like Deng Xiaoping — or deepen division and decay, like Gorbachev, observes academic Tan Kong Yam.

One of the many areas where China is vying with the US is the nuclear industry, particularly nuclear fusion for energy. While the US remains ahead for now, China is also moving quickly to build its nuclear infrastructure. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting speaks to academics and those in the industry.

Through rare photos of Beiping and Nanjing, Taiwanese historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao recalls bustling temple fairs, lanterns and family traditions, reflecting on the enduring spirit of Chinese New Year.

As gold and silver swung from record highs to sharp sell-offs in a matter of weeks, investors were forced to confront an uncomfortable truth — can precious metals still be relied upon as a safe haven in turbulent times?

With Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi winning a huge victory in the latest snap election, what does this mean for Japan’s relations with other countries and regions, including South Korea, India and Southeast Asia? Japanese academic Shin Kawashima gives his take.

Contrary to US President Trump’s Davos comments on Chinese wind farms, China’s wind power is a central pillar of its energy transition, with wind farms dotted around the country’s northern and northwestern regions, and in recent times, along its southeastern coastlines too. But these efforts are not without its challenges, such as an entrenched top-down approach and the difficulty of turning wind capacity into efficiently used, reliably transmitted clean power. EAI deputy director Chen Gang shares his insights.

China is asserting itself in global governance through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and alternative multilateral initiatives, combining consultation, soft laws and high standards to challenge the US-led order, says Chinese academic Gu Bin.

With the expiration of New START, the last agreement curtailing the nuclear powers of the US and Russia is no more, ratcheting up a nuclear race that gives China a chance to catch up. Academic Alessandro Arduino explains.

A white paper on safeguarding China’s national security released a day after the sentencing of media mogul Jimmy Lai sends a clear signal: the government will not relent in its efforts to uphold national security in Hong Kong. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing speaks with academics to find out the implications.

Rising numbers of young mainland-origin professionals and even Hong Kongers live in Shenzhen for bigger homes at half the price, using high-speed rail to keep Hong Kong jobs — boosting quality of life amid sky-high rents. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Tai Hing Shing takes a look at the good and the bad of this greater integration between Hong Kong and mainland China.

As the Year of the Horse approaches, two horse-themed toys, one born of a factory error and the other inspired by museum art, have become unlikely favourites ahead of the Chinese New Year.

Boardroom politics may replace global diplomacy with US President Trump’s new Board of Peace. In this architecture, peace is only a privilege for those who can pay for a seat at the chairman’s table. Commentator Imran Khalid shares his views.

From halal hotpot in subzero winters to TikTok-fuelled city breaks, Malay Singaporeans are finding a China that upends long-held assumptions — warmer, cheaper and far more welcoming than imagined. Lianhe Zaobao senior writer Wang Hwee Wen finds out more.