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SCMP

Catch up on some 2025 entries in Open Questions, SCMP’s series of in-depth interviews with global opinion leaders. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.
1. ‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended
American economist sees China as key to the global energy transition to zero-carbon energy, especially in markets outside US and Europe.
2. Ex-diplomat Kerry Brown on how Trump ‘stunned’ China with his ‘lack of caution’
King’s College, London professor says he “cannot think of a worse tactic” than threatening Beijing and presenting “zero-sum” options.
3. Sci-fi writer Liu Cixin on why he’ll be happy if AI surpasses humans

The acclaimed author of the Three-Body trilogy also discusses his “dark forest” theory, and the struggle to come up with original ideas.
4. Scholar Jing Qian on right-sizing China’s economy in the age of Trump
The researcher surveys the dividends of “Made in China 2025” and shares why he thinks Trump’s contradictions could benefit bilateral relations.
5. China ‘still far behind’ US in maths prowess but is on the rise: Shing-Tung Yau
When the 75-year-old maths genius left Harvard, many thought he would retire. Instead, he is nurturing the next generation of Chinese talent.
6. US-China rivalry doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game: Jessica Chen Weiss

The academic and former US State Department adviser on why Washington’s deterrence strategy must include assurances as well as threats.
7. Political analyst Zheng Yongnian on how China should respond to Trump’s return
The Chinese political scientist says if the country’s private enterprises can’t thrive, foreign capital won’t either.
8. Michael Sandel on Donald Trump’s rise, meritocracy and the US-China rivalry
The acclaimed Harvard professor also examines the crisis in American higher education during a time of rising populism.
9. Ex-PLA colonel Zhou Bo on Taiwan reunification, lessons from the Ukraine war

Commentator and former senior colonel on Beijing’s row with Japan, lessons from the Ukraine war and why playing global policeman is a trap.
10. The ‘godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton on preventing takeover by the technology
The British-Canadian computer scientist discusses the risks of the technology and whether superpowers can find common ground to rein it in.
11. Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky
Economist, business executive advocates looking beyond geopolitics, avoiding policy pitfalls and building a culture that celebrates success.
12. ‘A mistaken view’: US economist Nicholas Lardy on the ‘peak China’ hypothesis
The veteran China watcher talks Beijing’s need for financial reform and how US-China economic convergence could still be on the horizon.


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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez


Illustration: Davies Christian

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

DeepSeek’s game-changing rise, China’s robot boot camps: 7 AI 2025 breakthroughs

DeepSeek is being touted as China’s secret weapon in the artificial intelligence war with the US. Photo: AFP

Technicians train humanoid robots at a data collection centre run by the robotics company Agibot in Shanghai. Photo: Getty Images

Sex dolls made by WMDoll are on display at its headquarters in Zhongshan, a city in southern Guangdong province. Photo: Coco Feng

EngineAI Robotics’ humanoid T800 is capable of delivering Bruce Lee-style roundhouse kicks with great force. Photo: Handout

From Labubu to blockbuster films, was 2025 the year China’s soft power went mainstream?

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

 Illustration: Henry Wong

Chongqing has become known as China’s “cyberpunk capital”. Photo: Getty Images

Kenyan social media influencers (from left) MC Jessy, Betty Kyallo, Terence Creative and Mulamwah during their visit to China. Photo: Instagram

Tourists pose for photos with a wall painting featuring the hit animated film “Ne Zha 2” in Dongfeng Village in east China’s Shandong Province on March 1, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

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Economy

From acclaimed academics and writers to influential economists and policymakers, here are some of our best Open Questions interviews of the year


From acclaimed academics and writers to influential economists and policymakers, here are some of our best Open Questions interviews of the year.


.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From acclaimed academics and writers to influential economists and policymakers, here are some of our best Open Questions interviews of the year

1. ‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

2. Ex-diplomat Kerry Brown on how Trump ‘stunned’ China with his ‘lack of caution’

From acclaimed academics and writers to influential economists and policymakers, here are some of our best Open Questions interviews of the year