Grace Tsoi, Author at The Singapore Post

China’s Shadow in the Pacific: The Battle for Palau’s Sovereignty

25Mar

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China’s Shadow in the Pacific: The Battle for Palau’s Sovereignty

China has been steadily working to increase its influence in Palau, using media, economic leverage, and political tactics as part of a broader strategy to expand its global presence. One key aspect of China’s strategy involves the Overseas Chinese Big Data Group (OCBD), a Chinese company that backed the Palau Media Group, founded by Moses Uludong. The OCBD has ties to China’s military and public security organizations, raising concerns about espionage and Chinese influence in Palau. Uludong, a prominent figure in Palau and founder of the island's first newspaper Tia Belau, has long advocated for closer relations with China. This stance contrasts with the Palauan government’s position, as Palau remains a strong ally of the United States and one of only 13 nations globally tha

Taiwan Tightens Security to Counter China’s Espionage Web

24Mar

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Taiwan Tightens Security to Counter China’s Espionage Web

Taiwan stands as a symbol of democratic resilience in East Asia, making it a focal point of geopolitical tensions. Its government, led by President Lai Ching-te, is doubling down on efforts to counter Beijing's growing influence and espionage, which increasingly threaten Taiwan's sovereignty. Beijing’s tactics range from military espionage and cyberattacks to subtle infiltration of local governance and public opinion, creating a multifaceted challenge for Taiwan. China's attempts to exert influence over Taiwan extend across multiple fronts, targeting societal, military, and economic spheres. Official data reveals a stark increase in espionage-related activities, with 64 individuals charged in 2024, a staggering rise compared to 2021. These cases often involve military personnel

Decline and fall of the ‘socialist system with Chinese characteristics’

21Mar

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Decline and fall of the ‘socialist system with Chinese characteristics’

The address of Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting with leaders of major Chinese technology firms in the private sector on February 17 is a signal that the economic slump facing the country has forced the authorities to end the crackdown on the private sector in China. This also marks an abject collapse of President Xi’s pet theory of “socialist system with Chinese characteristics” under which the socialist society will control and guide the growth of private capital. Remarkably, apart from President Xi himself, the star attraction of the meeting was Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, the wealthiest business tycoon in China, who had disappeared from public view for several months after his speech on October 2020 in Shanghai where he publicly criticized China’s regulators and

Gan Wenwei: The man who tore down Great Chinese Firewall seeks asylum in Netherlands

17Mar

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Gan Wenwei: The man who tore down Great Chinese Firewall seeks asylum in Netherlands

In an era where digital freedom is often taken for granted in many parts of the world, China remains a stark exception. The country’s infamous Great Firewall, a sophisticated and ever-evolving system of internet censorship, has long prevented Chinese citizens from freely accessing global information. But one young man from Wuhan, Gan Wenwei, has emerged as a digital dissident, helping millions of Chinese netizens bypass state-imposed restrictions. Now, he finds himself in the crosshairs of Chinese authorities, wanted for his actions, and seeking political asylum in the Netherlands. Gan Wenwei’s journey into cyber activism began like that of many young Chinese growing up in a tightly controlled digital ecosystem. Raised in Wuhan, a city known for its rich cultural histor

China’s nuke threat to Philippines pushes for a global conflict

10Mar

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China’s nuke threat to Philippines pushes for a global conflict

China is fighting fire with fire by going nuke in the disputed South China Sea that may escalate into a global conflict. China is preparing a new stealth submarine armed with nuclear-tipped hypersonic missiles to counter US made Typhoon missiles deployed in Philippines. US too has relocated its Typhoon launchers in Luzon island of Philippines to block China’s aggression as the situation gets into a threatening phase. Will Philippines be a new flashpoint between China and the US leading to a mega showdown in South China sea that may pull the world into its ambit? The South China Morning Post (SCMP)recently highlighted a report in a Chinese semi-official military magazine that mentions an under development Chinese submarine at a shipyard in Wuhan specially being made to target US’s T

Philippines Targets China Politically and Diplomatically Ahead of Mid-Term polls

22Feb

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Philippines Targets China Politically and Diplomatically Ahead of Mid-Term polls

Ahead of mid-term polls, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. has intensified his strategic efforts to target China both politically and diplomatically. The midterm polls are due in May. Amid rising tensions with China, Marcos has chosen to focus on China in election rallies. He has accused his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, of being pro-China, stating that the previous government was too eager for the Philippines "to be a province of China." Marcos Jr. has strongly challenged China due to its illegal claims over the Philippine’s Western Sea. In a rally in Davao del Norte province, he briefed attendees about how large Chinese ships attacked the Philippine Coast Guard with water cannons. Chinese vessels have engaged in multiple high-profile confrontations wi

Random, revenge attacks grow in China amid mental health problems; Detrimental to domestic stability

18Feb

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Random, revenge attacks grow in China amid mental health problems; Detrimental to domestic stability

Amid public anger, Chinese government resorted to the execution of two men involved in killing of random people, but it may not have addressed the underlying causes of these attacks. Health issues, economic woes, unemployment, societal pressure, and even lack of political freedom have emerged as major factors responsible for the mental challenges among Chinese citizens engaging in revenge attacks. These attacks are manifestations of these mental health struggles and frustrations, which can prove deary for Beijing if ignored. In January 2025, two men were executed for “revenge on society crimes”. At least 35 people were killed after the 62-year-old Fan Weiqu rammed his car into a crowd outside a sports stadium in the southern city of Zhuhai in November 2024. In the same month, a you

Legal action by Philippines may risk international reputation of China

1Feb

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Legal action by Philippines may risk international reputation of China

Environmental accountability and the international perception of China are likely to be under scrutiny now, thanks to the Filipino plans to take legal action against Beijing over damages to maritime resources in the South China Sea. The legal case can lead to scrutiny of the Chinese adherence to international laws and responsibilities, which may hurt its reputation and standing in the global community. China and the Philippines have already been witnessing strong clashes in the South China Sea in relation to the control over a few shoals. There has exchange of barbs as well as violent on-field clashes between the two countries. Now the legal case can add a new colour to the conflict, putting Chinese hegemony on trial. Filipino Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said the appropria...

Flipside of corruption: When thousands of anti-graft officials in China end up becoming corrupt

31Jan

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Flipside of corruption: When thousands of anti-graft officials in China end up becoming corrupt

In the last more than a decade, China has poured millions of yuan to make its anti-corruption drive in the country successful. It hired thousands of anti-graft investigators to bust corruption and launch a crackdown on government officials who have made money by indulging in dishonest practices. But now a bizarre spectacle has emerged: Those hired for eradicating corruption in China have themselves become highly corrupt, making it very difficult for the authorities to overcome the decay that has set in almost all departments and ministries of the country. However, to keep the record straight, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the Communist Party of China’s top anti-corruption body, placed 3,900 officials of its department under investigation on suspicion of w

Australia’s approach to China during an election year

30Jan

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Australia’s approach to China during an election year

With all eyes on US President Trump over the past month, the world’s second superpower quietly slipped from global headlines. Until this week, when China’s DeepSeek unveiled its artificial intelligence (AI) model, which rivals the advanced American AI, but at a fraction of the costs. The story triggered a meltdown of the US stock market and marked another milestone in the US-China tech race. For Australia, it underlined how China’s trajectory in 2025 will profoundly influence our economic and strategic prospects. This will be a testing year for Australia-China relations, as both Canberra and Beijing face a confluence of economic and political pressure points, amid global geopolitical upheaval. Economic interdependence under strainChina’s sluggish economy and the end of the commod