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US gold medallist Alysa Liu celebrates victory with her national flag in Milan, Italy, on February 19. Photo: Reuters
United States

Opinion | Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu don’t deserve to be caught in culture wars

The issue is not that one chose to represent China and another the US but that both have been dragged into culture wars not of their making.

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Two Sessions 2026

Opinion | China’s ‘two sessions’ show plans for resilience in a stormy world

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US-China relations

Opinion | China waits and watches as the US fights all its tigers at once

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China-Germany relations

Opinion | Merz’s China visit shows pragmatic diplomacy still matters

The German chancellor’s trip to Beijing suggests that Europe can de-risk from China while still pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits the Forbidden City in Beijing on February 26. Photo: AFP
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits the Forbidden City in Beijing on February 26. Photo: AFP
China society

Opinion | Why a TV hit in China about waging peace resonates so deeply

Swords into Ploughshares can tell us a lot about Beijing’s approach to the crisis in Iran, cross-strait relations and this year’s ‘two sessions’.

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Asean

Opinion | Fatigue is rewriting the US-China soft power contest, starting in Asean

At a time when no one has bandwidth left, soft power is being won by being the partner that feels usable, steady and low-risk.

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China society

Opinion | Quietly, steadily, animal rights campaigners are making headway in China

With national laws the ultimate goal, progress is being made, one local regulation and court case at a time.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Illustration: Craig Stephens
Artificial intelligence

Opinion | How the US ceded the robotics economy to China

Chinese gains in robotics show that nations wishing to compete must go beyond financial engineering to master their physical realities.

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Two Sessions 2026

Opinion | Now is the time for China to show it’s serious about opening up

The ‘two sessions’ is Beijing’s chance to demonstrate reliability as nations reassess their ties with China and the US in an increasingly fragmented global order.

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Artificial intelligence

Opinion | As AI agents advance, Hong Kong should shape the rules now

By leveraging the Hong Kong-Shenzhen innovation hub as a cross-border testing ground, the city can set the standard for responsible AI governance.

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A girl plays with a robot during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference at the Shanghai World Expo and Convention Centre in Shanghai on July 28, 2025. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Opinion | Why China steers clear of the West’s transactional diplomacy

Strains in transatlantic ties show the limits of quid pro quo diplomacy – and the appeal of Beijing’s relationship-first approach.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the Munich Security Conference on February 14 in Munich, southern Germany. Photo: Pool / AFP
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the Munich Security Conference on February 14 in Munich, southern Germany. Photo: Pool / AFP
War and conflict

Opinion | US-Israeli strike on Iran signals new phase of global escalation

This is deterrence fatigue: escalation thresholds weakened by repeated testing and retaliation. The risk is not only war but systemic strain.

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Taiwan

As I see it | Taipei must break free of its abusive relationship with Washington

US President Donald Trump’s tariff blitz is not Taiwan’s fault, but the self-ruled island must come to see that Washington is unreliable.

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European Union

Opinion | Europe is ready for strategic autonomy, but at what cost?

The EU post-war project left Europe lagging behind the US and China. Now, without American protection, the continent must reclaim its edge.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China economy

Opinion | How ‘little giants’ help China defend its manufacturing dominance

Support for ‘little giants’ and other specialised SMEs remains a vital part of the long-term strategy to bolster China’s global manufacturing.

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A robot by ‘little giant’ tech firm Unitree Robotics dancing at the TechShare booth during the International Robot Exhibition 2025 (iREX2025) in Tokyo, Japan, on December 3. Photo: EPA
A robot by ‘little giant’ tech firm Unitree Robotics dancing at the TechShare booth during the International Robot Exhibition 2025 (iREX2025) in Tokyo, Japan, on December 3. Photo: EPA
United States

Opinion | Despite Supreme Court ruling, Trump has legal cards for tariffs in hand

The US’ trading partners are understandably taking a wait-and-see approach to the tariff landscape after the court decision.

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Hong Kong courts

Opinion | A speedy pardon in the Jimmy Lai case is unlikely

Foreign governments campaigning for the former media boss’ release should thoroughly look into the nuances of the case as the legal process plays out.

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China-Africa relations

Opinion | China’s zero-tariff offer to Africa is a game changer

In contrast to Western proposals that come with strings attached, China has turned its own market into the main instrument of partnership.

A volunteer grinds coffee beans with children during a hands-on experience session at the Ethiopian pavilion of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Innovation Demonstration Park in Changsha, Hunan province on August 30, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
A volunteer grinds coffee beans with children during a hands-on experience session at the Ethiopian pavilion of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Innovation Demonstration Park in Changsha, Hunan province on August 30, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
China-EU relations

Opinion | Germany’s outreach to China signals a reckoning, rather than a shift

The German chancellor realises that while China poses a long-term economic challenge, the United States is currently the more disruptive partner.

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Food and agriculture

Opinion | How China’s national food security push could reshape global markets

Amid increasing pressure from trade wars and climate change, Beijing is reframing agriculture as a matter of national security.

Robotics

Opinion | Humans vs robots? China begs to disagree

As China embraces humanoid robots, policymakers and companies are expanding the scope of innovation and applications in daily life.

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Robots dance for the Spring Festival Gala on train travelling from Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province, to Beijing on February 13. Photo: Xinhua
China economy

Opinion | How the next China shock is shaping hearts and minds

No longer confined to trade and technology, competition between China and the West is now playing out in the realm of cultural imagination.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Illustration: Craig Stephens
US-China relations

Opinion | Pax Sinica vs Pax Silica: how China-US mineral war is taking shape

The US approach of deploying capital and diplomatic leverage must make up for China’s years-long head start in building its reserves.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | The 21st-century order has outgrown 20th-century institutions

Despite international tensions, countries still seek cooperation based on shared interests. Institutions must embrace this trend.

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US-China relations

Opinion | US and China can again find common ground – in AI’s risks

If Beijing and Washington could meet in 1972 to manage a shared threat, today’s leaders can cooperate to shape the rules of AI.

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People use augmented reality headsets during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference at the Shanghai World Expo and Convention Center in Shanghai on July 28, 2025. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS
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