https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/522583/feed The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) is an autonomous postgraduate school of the National University of Singapore, located in Singapore. Established in 2004, its primary mission is to be a leading global public policy school in Asia, educating future leaders and improving governance standards for a more sustainable world. The LKYSPP focuses on education through Master’s, PhD, and Executive programmes, alongside research in areas such as public management, international relations,... en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Jean Iau Jean Iau When the time came to renew his certificate of entitlement (COE), Andrew Tan hit the brakes on coughing up an eye-watering S$112,000 (US$87,400) to keep his car on Singapore’s roads for another 10 years. Instead, the 49-year-old business consultant decided in May to go without a car for the first time in two decades. High COE prices, rising running costs and the hassle of parking and congestion are prompting more Singaporeans to reconsider car ownership, as the land-scarce city state expands... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3369591/going-car-lite-why-more-singaporeans-are-quitting-driving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3369591/going-car-lite-why-more-singaporeans-are-quitting-driving?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing’s use of Mandarin and Chinese philosophy in his speech at a major security forum in Beijing has won him praise on Chinese social media, while shedding light on how cultural familiarity and language can be diplomatic tools for the city state. Videos of Chan at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum quoting ancient philosopher Mencius, or Mengzi in Mandarin, have gone viral on platforms such as Weixin and Baidu, with users hailing his command of the language and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368046/singapore-minister-chan-chun-sings-mandarin-diplomacy-strikes-china-chord?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368046/singapore-minister-chan-chun-sings-mandarin-diplomacy-strikes-china-chord?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:41:36 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim As Singapore considers joining a China-led body on artificial intelligence, analysts say membership would give the city state a bigger say in global governance matters related to the technology but may invite an unfriendly response from Washington. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo revealed in parliament earlier this week that Singapore had received an invitation to join the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (Waico). Singapore would consider the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367253/singapore-weighs-joining-china-led-ai-body-does-it-risk-us-retaliation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367253/singapore-weighs-joining-china-led-ai-body-does-it-risk-us-retaliation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:53:24 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore is positioning itself as a bridge between Central Asia and Asean, as both regions increasingly look to each other amid growing disruption to global trade and intensifying superpower rivalry. The political appetite exists, but analysts say trade benefits will still hinge on overcoming obstacles such as geography and a lack of connectivity. Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong pitched the city state to Central Asian businesses during his visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3366145/can-singapore-be-natural-choice-bridge-asean-and-central-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3366145/can-singapore-be-natural-choice-bridge-asean-and-central-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:06:32 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The South China Morning Post has launched a major data project diving into President Xi Jinping’s signature anti-graft campaign. In the third part of a series accompanying the data project, William Zheng looks at the relationship between rich regional resources and corruption. Beneath the desolate Gobi Desert and sparsely populated mountains of China’s less developed regions lie abundant mineral resources, ranging from coal, the most basic fuel for China’s economy, to critical minerals needed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365306/resource-curse-blame-regions-hit-harder-xis-anti-corruption-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365306/resource-curse-blame-regions-hit-harder-xis-anti-corruption-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:00:06 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The South China Morning Post has launched a major data project diving into President Xi Jinping’s signature anti-graft campaign. In the first part of a series accompanying the data project, Phoebe Zhang looks at how the campaign became one of the Communist Party’s most important policies. In the early years of President Xi Jinping’s first term, when graft fighters were taking down senior officials in ways that raised eyebrows, Chinese authorities constantly had to remind the public that the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365052/how-chinas-anti-corruption-fight-became-xi-jinpings-most-important-policy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3365052/how-chinas-anti-corruption-fight-became-xi-jinpings-most-important-policy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 22:00:07 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s latest package of tax breaks and visa incentives for fund managers could enhance its appeal as a leading asset management hub, as competition with Hong Kong intensifies for global capital and high-value financial talent, analysts have said. While the measures would help maintain Singapore’s competitiveness, they are unlikely to create a significant or lasting advantage over Hong Kong, according to Ramkishen Rajan, an economist and Yong Pung How Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3364867/singapores-carrots-fund-managers-set-sharpen-competition-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3364867/singapores-carrots-fund-managers-set-sharpen-competition-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:08:50 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim After years of concern over students using artificial intelligence to cut corners, Singapore’s universities are embracing the technology, driven not just by changes in the classroom but by pressure to prepare graduates for an economy that increasingly prizes AI literacy. But analysts say educators still face the challenge of ensuring students use AI to sharpen their critical thinking rather than relying on it for quick answers and guidance. On August 11, the National University of Singapore... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3364419/singapores-universities-race-embrace-ai-job-demands-transform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3364419/singapores-universities-race-embrace-ai-job-demands-transform?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singaporean Jo Teoh has spent over three decades waking up to birdsong, the rustle of leaves as macaques jump through trees, and the lingering smell of damp earth. Much of her time living in the western estate of Sunset Way revolves around the adjacent forest, where she and her family watch hornbills glide over the canopy. “The neighbourhood lives with the forest,” said the media producer, 68. “It has shaped the character of our home and community.” But the chirps and faint crickets may soon... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3362544/living-neighbour-singapore-residents-fight-save-maju-forest-clearance-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3362544/living-neighbour-singapore-residents-fight-save-maju-forest-clearance-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:32:16 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The United States is pitching billions of dollars in investment to become Southeast Asia’s energy partner of choice, offering gas, grid technology and nuclear expertise as ongoing turmoil from the Iran war sharpens fears of future supply shocks. Analysts say the push serves American strategic and commercial interests – from opening markets for US liquefied natural gas to countering China’s dominance in big-ticket infrastructure – but also offers the region opportunity. Washington announced... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3362266/inside-americas-us15-billion-play-southeast-asian-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3362266/inside-americas-us15-billion-play-southeast-asian-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:00:35 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Tax breaks used to be enough. Not any more. Analysts say a new generation of investors is prioritising legal certainty and regulatory stability over incentives – and Asia’s most successful international financial centres will be those that successfully secure trust. All of which carries repercussions for Indonesia’s plans to build its first international finance centre, after lawmakers passed a law on Tuesday giving the project the green light. Enforceable contracts, predictable regulation and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3361785/why-indonesia-needs-legal-trust-not-tax-cuts-build-finance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3361785/why-indonesia-needs-legal-trust-not-tax-cuts-build-finance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s decision to open more labour channels to workers from East Timor could give the city state an “early-mover” edge in an emerging Asean market, though the economic gains are expected to take years. Analysts also say both countries, whose leaders met last week in the capital of Asean’s newest member, are looking at a “win-win” situation, with the deal set to ease Singapore’s structural manpower shortage while giving Dili a chance to better utilise its young and growing population. On... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3359607/singapore-bets-early-mover-edge-labour-pact-east-timor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3359607/singapore-bets-early-mover-edge-labour-pact-east-timor?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:08:51 +0000 Ambrose Li,Kolette Lim Ambrose Li,Kolette Lim Setting up a new regional chamber of commerce will “fulfil a long-felt need” to bridge the gap between the Greater Bay Area and Asean, with Hong Kong acting as a “natural connector”, the business group’s inaugural chairman has said. But given existing agreements and bilateral relations between the city and individual member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, analysts said the economic benefits introduced by the new chamber were likely to be more modest than dramatic. The Asean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3358921/new-asean-chamber-commerce-launched-hong-kong-will-fulfil-long-felt-need?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3358921/new-asean-chamber-commerce-launched-hong-kong-will-fulfil-long-felt-need?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:46:17 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Seventeen countries have agreed to collaborate on defence strategies for critical marine infrastructure such as undersea cables, an effort that analysts warn may be undermined by the absence of superpower involvement. At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, defence ministers and representatives from these countries attended the launch of the Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges (Guide), which aims to bring countries together to explore potential areas... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3355411/17-nations-launch-pact-protect-vital-undersea-cables-amid-us-china-absence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3355411/17-nations-launch-pact-protect-vital-undersea-cables-amid-us-china-absence?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 09:55:59 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s plan to trial weaponised unmanned drones has put a spotlight on Southeast Asia’s fast-growing interest in systems that can track and strike at targets without putting operators directly in harm’s way. But as countries race to upgrade their drone and counter-drone capabilities, analysts say regulation, transparency and confidence-building will be crucial to prevent accidents or miscalculations that could fuel regional tensions. Singapore announced on Thursday that it would start... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3354246/singapores-weaponised-drone-trial-spotlights-regional-rush-unmanned-systems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3354246/singapores-weaponised-drone-trial-spotlights-regional-rush-unmanned-systems?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:22 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Indonesia has proposed hosting an Asean oil storage hub to reinforce the region’s emergency fuel reserves, as supply disruptions from the Middle East lay bare the region’s vulnerability to energy shocks. But analysts say the plan, while attractive in principle, is likely to be hampered by political distrust, uneven national priorities and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ record of rolling out regional mechanisms that are rarely tested under pressure. Indonesian Energy Minister Bahlil... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3354057/indonesias-oil-hub-plan-collides-aseans-trust-deficit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3354057/indonesias-oil-hub-plan-collides-aseans-trust-deficit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 05:21:51 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has sought to reassure workers amid concerns about the AI revolution, vowing that the city state will carve out fresh opportunities even as the new technology renders some jobs obsolete. In the annual May Day rally on Friday, Wong acknowledged the anxieties but urged workers and firms to build artificial intelligence capabilities and harness its benefits. Demand would rise for AI-savvy workers, and new doors would open as global companies expanded their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3352118/singapores-lawrence-wong-reassures-workers-over-ai-fears-vows-job-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3352118/singapores-lawrence-wong-reassures-workers-over-ai-fears-vows-job-opportunities?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 05:35:46 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Governments across Southeast Asia have been banking on work-from-home arrangements for civil servants to ease the sting of soaring energy costs triggered by the Iran war, but analysts say the maths is messier than it may first appear. Indonesia estimates its Friday work-from-home policy, introduced on April 1, will save around 6.2 trillion rupiah (US$361.5 million) in state fuel subsidies and nearly 10 times that amount in total consumption. The Philippines has similarly introduced a four-day... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350816/work-home-may-not-save-much-energy-southeast-asia-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3350816/work-home-may-not-save-much-energy-southeast-asia-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:35:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim In recent weeks, Singaporean Cindy has been troubled by an odour lingering in the air during her evening walks to the gym. “It’s the same situation every year, but I would say that the fogginess and burning smell have been getting stronger for the last year or so,” said the 33-year-old resident who lives in the southern estate of Telok Blangah. “I have a baby, so it concerns me a lot, and I know many other families feel the same,” she said. “I always keep our windows closed, which is not very... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3348070/haze-returns-singapore-crisis-quietly-accepted-asean-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3348070/haze-returns-singapore-crisis-quietly-accepted-asean-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:00:13 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As China undergoes a sweeping economic transition, its regions are also in the process of embracing change. The powerhouses of yesteryear must adapt or risk falling behind, as traditional industries become less reliable growth drivers and new sectors take prominence. In this series, we explore three representative areas of the country as they attempt to navigate this rapidly changing environment. After Joyce Wu moved from Hainan province to Hong Kong in 2013, she marvelled for years at the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3347581/chinas-hainan-wants-more-beach-tourism-will-new-customs-rules-cause-sea-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3347581/chinas-hainan-wants-more-beach-tourism-will-new-customs-rules-cause-sea-change?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Barbora Valockova Barbora Valockova What does the world’s digital economy rest on? Thousands of kilometres of fibre-optic cable lying on the ocean floor and, increasingly, in the crosshairs of great-power rivalry. The confluence of recent subsea cable disruptions, gaps in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and intensifying great-power competition has elevated this underwater infrastructure from a technical and commercial concern to a security issue – characterised as “this century’s hidden battleground”. It has... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3346525/underwater-and-unprotected-why-asean-and-eu-must-secure-subsea-lifelines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3346525/underwater-and-unprotected-why-asean-and-eu-must-secure-subsea-lifelines?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Local governments across China have rushed to ride the OpenClaw AI boom in hopes of spurring economic growth, only for Beijing to step in swiftly to rein in the frenzy. Authorities in Beijing have issued a series of safety warnings that analysts say underscore the divide in priorities between local and central authorities. The rush to adopt the artificial intelligence (AI) software has seen major internet companies offer low-cost or easily accessible versions, while local governments have rolled... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3346384/what-chinas-openclaw-divide-reveals-about-local-and-central-government-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3346384/what-chinas-openclaw-divide-reveals-about-local-and-central-government-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:57:44 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore is preparing to build its tallest public housing project yet with some blocks rising above 60 storeys in the historic Chinatown area, in a sign of the city state pushing for higher density in prime areas to meet demand. Such super-tall developments are unlikely to become the norm, according to analysts, who cite higher construction costs, site constraints and tighter regulations aimed at preventing centrally located flats from becoming speculative investments. Singapore would build the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3346379/some-singapore-flats-above-60-storeys-horizon-will-owners-face-tighter-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3346379/some-singapore-flats-above-60-storeys-horizon-will-owners-face-tighter-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:41:54 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang During the past decade, Chinese think tanks have had the best of two worlds – having the backing of the government while having some room to move outside it. Encouraged by the country’s leadership to promote China’s soft power, the sector has grown in influence as retired officials have come on board, bringing expertise, connections and some freedom. Not unlike their Western counterparts, these institutes have come to play major roles in Track 2 diplomacy and policy recommendations. But two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3343977/end-golden-age-chinese-think-tanks-star-ex-officials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3343977/end-golden-age-chinese-think-tanks-star-ex-officials?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Foreign money is flowing back into Southeast Asia, and analysts expect the region to remain a draw for global investors even as geopolitical tensions and domestic political risks cloud the outlook. Emerging Southeast Asian markets recorded US$337 million of equity inflow in December last year, the highest monthly figure since September 2024, according to a Bloomberg report. These economies include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Analysts say the rebound points to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3339114/why-investors-are-looking-southeast-asias-economies-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3339114/why-investors-are-looking-southeast-asias-economies-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:30:48 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim As countries and economies around the world scramble for a slice of the growing artificial intelligence pie, Southeast Asia is also aiming to usher in a new dawn of higher productivity, fuelled by more investment and research opportunities in the technology. But tech experts warn that a deepening economic and tech divide is looming as nations in the region adopt AI at a different pace. On Wednesday, Google DeepMind announced the opening of a research lab in Singapore, focused on researching and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3333690/why-aseans-ai-ambition-may-lead-widening-economic-and-tech-divide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3333690/why-aseans-ai-ambition-may-lead-widening-economic-and-tech-divide?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:15:29 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell As South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa convenes the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, two things are likely to be on many minds: the empty chair and the spirit of ubuntu. Wikipedia defines the ubuntu philosophy as encompassing “the interdependence of humans on one another and the acknowledgement of one’s responsibility to their fellow humans and the world around them”. For the purposes of South Africa’s hosting of the G20 summit, that Zulu term means multilateralism – anathema to US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3333596/multilateralism-isnt-dead-despite-trumpian-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3333596/multilateralism-isnt-dead-despite-trumpian-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 08:30:10 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s Communist Party needs to enforce strict discipline to deal with external pressure and manage tough domestic development issues over the next five years, the president’s chief of staff has said. In an opinion piece in state-run People’s Daily on Monday, Cai Qi wrote of the “extreme importance of exercising full and rigorous party self-governance to achieve the economic and social development goals of the 15th five-year plan period”. Cai, the fifth-ranking member of the Politburo Standing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3331319/communist-party-discipline-key-meeting-chinas-5-year-plan-goals-cai-qi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3331319/communist-party-discipline-key-meeting-chinas-5-year-plan-goals-cai-qi?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:22:39 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Super Typhoon Ragasa may have been the biggest storm of its kind in the world this year, but when it made landfall in mainland China last month, it left no fatalities in its wake. Rewind to 2018 when Mangkhut, the last super typhoon to hit Guangdong province, struck and at least four people were killed in southern China. Typhoon Hato also left nine dead in Guangdong in 2017, and Typhoon Fanapi caused 34 deaths in the coastal province in 2010. The contrast is even sharper when compared with the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3327644/how-china-was-ready-super-typhoon-ragasa-and-what-still-needs-be-done?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3327644/how-china-was-ready-super-typhoon-ragasa-and-what-still-needs-be-done?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:00:29 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Competition, a struggling job market and immigration fears are fuelling criticism in China of the country’s new K visa programme, a scheme designed to attract foreign STEM talent. Unveiled in August and set to launch on Wednesday, the programme attracted an unexpected public backlash this week, with many voicing concerns about its potential impact on local employment and immigration. Public policy analysts said greater transparency, clearer messaging and strict oversight were needed to address... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327415/chinas-new-k-visa-meant-lure-foreign-stem-talent-instead-its-drawn-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327415/chinas-new-k-visa-meant-lure-foreign-stem-talent-instead-its-drawn-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Das still remembers an offhand remark from a former colleague who, upon seeing his hairy legs, said that they resembled a monkey’s. For the 30-year-old ethnic Indian Singaporean postgraduate student, who spoke to This Week in Asia under a pseudonym, the comment reflected a kind of casual insensitivity he said he had encountered as a racial minority in Singapore. “I would ascribe the confidence of saying such things without having to endure a blowback or to blow it off as a joke to Chinese... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3320004/does-chinese-privilege-exist-singapore-study-finds-views-differ-age-and-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3320004/does-chinese-privilege-exist-singapore-study-finds-views-differ-age-and-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:56:25 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau A marquee visit by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to China this week has underscored a push by Southeast Asian countries for multilateralism amid uncertainty over America’s commitment to the region and free trade. Observers say Wong’s comments during his five-day trip, particularly at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, or so-called Summer Davos, are aligned with the regional agenda of Asean members in recent years. But even as Chinese President Xi Jinping called for his country and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3315974/china-bridge-builder-singapore-champions-multilateral-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3315974/china-bridge-builder-singapore-champions-multilateral-world?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:24:52 +0000