Employees work on the semiconductor chip production line at Jiangsu Azure Corp in Huaian, Jiangsu province, in March 2022. Photo: China Daily via Reuters

Opinion | 2 things China must focus on to hit its economic growth target

To achieve its economic growth target, Beijing will have to lift consumption and hi-tech exports. China’s unique circumstances mean it requires more stimulus than previously, including the 4 trillion yuan used to combat the 2008 global financial crisis.

17 Mar 2024 - 5:22PM

Opinion | How Hong Kong can encourage the next generation of problem-solvers

The interdisciplinary nature of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) has faced challenges and successes in Hong Kong. Incorporating geospatial awareness into STEAM education is key to preparing young people to lead smart-city development.

The interdisciplinary nature of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) has faced challenges and successes in Hong Kong. Incorporating geospatial awareness into STEAM education is key to preparing young people to lead smart-city development.

17 Mar 2024 - 1:30PM

Asian Angle | ‘Plug and play’: how closer Australia-Asean ties can boost regional stability

Australia and Japan can help Asean leverage Australian and the Quad’s resources to manage the more assertive aspects of China’s regional behaviour.

Australia and Japan can help Asean leverage Australian and the Quad’s resources to manage the more assertive aspects of China’s regional behaviour.

17 Mar 2024 - 11:00AM

Asian Angle | A kidney for your vote: money politics in Indonesia’s 2024 elections

The practice of money politics in Indonesia is insidious, entrenched and not likely to go away any time soon, because it works, writes Burhanuddin Muhtadi.

The practice of money politics in Indonesia is insidious, entrenched and not likely to go away any time soon, because it works, writes Burhanuddin Muhtadi.

16 Mar 2024 - 11:00AM

Opinion | China’s plan for ‘new productive forces’ should make the West sit up

It’s the successor to the grossly underestimated “Made in China 2025” strategy, which spawned China’s dominance in electric cars, green tech and other high-end industries.

It’s the successor to the grossly underestimated “Made in China 2025” strategy, which spawned China’s dominance in electric cars, green tech and other high-end industries.

16 Mar 2024 - 9:30AM

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

Opinion | Rising tide of ethno-religious nationalism threatens civilisation

From the US grilling of TikTok’s CEO over his nationality to Israel’s intractability over the Gaza war, ethno-religious nationalism threatens to split our world into antagonistic civilisation enclaves.

16 Mar 2024 - 5:47AM

Opinion | Middle powers’ global clout is growing but not in power politics

The growing influence of middle powers – those too small to be superpowers but still seen as ranking above developing countries – can shape global events. But, as long as great powers can ignore them with unilateral action or by using their veto, this influence is unlikely to shake the core of power politics.

The growing influence of middle powers – those too small to be superpowers but still seen as ranking above developing countries – can shape global events. But, as long as great powers can ignore them with unilateral action or by using their veto, this influence is unlikely to shake the core of power politics.

15 Mar 2024 - 9:09PM

Opinion | Australia summit shows Asean wants climate partners. Hong Kong, step up

Melbourne meeting reaffirmed Asean’s carbon neutrality strategy and unveiled partnerships with Australia. Asean’s climate investment gap is a chance for Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Melbourne meeting reaffirmed Asean’s carbon neutrality strategy and unveiled partnerships with Australia. Asean’s climate investment gap is a chance for Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

15 Mar 2024 - 9:30AM

Opinion | The real reason for US, EU gripes about Chinese overcapacity

They are defensive because China threatens their dominance in advanced manufacturing, but fail to see how Chinese manufacturing helps the global energy transition and benefits Global South consumers.

They are defensive because China threatens their dominance in advanced manufacturing, but fail to see how Chinese manufacturing helps the global energy transition and benefits Global South consumers.

15 Mar 2024 - 5:30AM

My Take | Taiwan is undermining its own ‘silicon shield’

For an economy that relies so much on microchips from the low end to the most advanced, its worsening relationship with Beijing is forcing others to diversify critical supply chains and production facilities.

For an economy that relies so much on microchips from the low end to the most advanced, its worsening relationship with Beijing is forcing others to diversify critical supply chains and production facilities.

14 Mar 2024 - 9:00PM

Opinion | The risks and rewards as China makes a big push for science and tech

Amid a US tech war, China is boosting its war chest by 10 per cent and focusing on basic research, moves that could establish its tech supremacy. But internal challenges remain.

Amid a US tech war, China is boosting its war chest by 10 per cent and focusing on basic research, moves that could establish its tech supremacy. But internal challenges remain.

14 Mar 2024 - 6:52AM

Opinion | There’s more than one approach to multipolarity. Ask China and Russia

As multipolarity becomes a trend, it’s necessary to compare differences among emerging nations as well as between those countries and the West. Russia and China have a close strategic partnership but very different outlooks and behaviour on the world stage.

As multipolarity becomes a trend, it’s necessary to compare differences among emerging nations as well as between those countries and the West. Russia and China have a close strategic partnership but very different outlooks and behaviour on the world stage.

13 Mar 2024 - 11:09PM

The View | However innovative, China needs a network to become chip self-sufficient

The Western semiconductor landscape is an intertwined global network, fostered by decades of collaborative research and intellectual property sharing. Beijing must learn to marshal its domestic and international resources in a similar way to realise its ambitions.

The Western semiconductor landscape is an intertwined global network, fostered by decades of collaborative research and intellectual property sharing. Beijing must learn to marshal its domestic and international resources in a similar way to realise its ambitions.

12 Mar 2024 - 9:12PM

Opinion | How China’s unique value system unpins its prosperity and innovation

A new book by MIT professor Yasheng Huang suggests China’s political economy has long operated under a mix of autonomy and control. The nation’s development strategy has largely reached its limits and Beijing must now harness its innovative potential to spur its ‘animal spirits’.

A new book by MIT professor Yasheng Huang suggests China’s political economy has long operated under a mix of autonomy and control. The nation’s development strategy has largely reached its limits and Beijing must now harness its innovative potential to spur its ‘animal spirits’.

12 Mar 2024 - 5:30PM

Opinion | Australia-Asean summit laid bare both common ground and deep rifts

The recent Australia-Asean summit in Melbourne was illuminating in areas of economic cooperation as well as hot-button geopolitical issues. Agreeing on greater trade and investment was easy, but the South China Sea and Israel’s war in Gaza showed the wide diversity in opinion among attendees.

The recent Australia-Asean summit in Melbourne was illuminating in areas of economic cooperation as well as hot-button geopolitical issues. Agreeing on greater trade and investment was easy, but the South China Sea and Israel’s war in Gaza showed the wide diversity in opinion among attendees.

12 Mar 2024 - 4:14PM

Opinion | Australia’s offer to fund Asean security must be met with extreme caution

Amid US-China tensions, South China Sea spats and a tense Taiwan Strait, what the region needs to secure peace and economic security is not more weapons but greater diplomacy.

Amid US-China tensions, South China Sea spats and a tense Taiwan Strait, what the region needs to secure peace and economic security is not more weapons but greater diplomacy.

12 Mar 2024 - 5:30AM

Macroscope | China’s rise as world’s green factory has put West on the back foot

China’s growing dominance in solar panels, electric cars and batteries is putting US and European manufacturers at a disadvantage and is attracting defensive hostility.

China’s growing dominance in solar panels, electric cars and batteries is putting US and European manufacturers at a disadvantage and is attracting defensive hostility.

9 Mar 2024 - 5:30PM

Opinion | Focus on industrial policy holds promise, and risk, for China’s economy

As China pursues its economic goals, it must pay attention to the delicate balance between ambitious growth and the sustainable management of resources. Pursuing economic growth via domestic industrial policy without due caution risks making inequality worse and exacerbating trade frictions with other countries.

As China pursues its economic goals, it must pay attention to the delicate balance between ambitious growth and the sustainable management of resources. Pursuing economic growth via domestic industrial policy without due caution risks making inequality worse and exacerbating trade frictions with other countries.

8 Mar 2024 - 4:30PM

Opinion | As Trump 2.0 looms, China and EU must overcome their differences

Trump is likely to escalate hostilities against China and the EU, with higher tariffs and a possible US exit from Nato. To prepare, Beijing and Brussels must start tackling their geopolitical, security and trade differences.

Trump is likely to escalate hostilities against China and the EU, with higher tariffs and a possible US exit from Nato. To prepare, Beijing and Brussels must start tackling their geopolitical, security and trade differences.

6 Mar 2024 - 9:36PM

Opinion | Young people will support healthy US-China ties if we support them

Enrolment numbers of Americans in Chinese universities are historically low amid strained bilateral relations. China should get creative with policies to attract students and young professionals from the US and around the world.

Enrolment numbers of Americans in Chinese universities are historically low amid strained bilateral relations. China should get creative with policies to attract students and young professionals from the US and around the world.

6 Mar 2024 - 5:40PM