From hard tariffs to hot tea: How uncertainties in US inadvertently fueled China’s rise in global appeal?

 ‘Very Chinese time’

Foreign tourists interact with performers during a lion dance performance at a scenic spot in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, on January 17, 2026. Photo: VCG

These days, TikTok feeds are filled with a recurring set of visuals: Young people from the US and other countries hold steaming mugs, seriously declaring to the camera, "From tomorrow, I'm turning Chinese." 

Some replace cold salads with a bowl of hot congee (porridge), some try to boil apple water on the stove for the first time, others slip on thick socks and step into slippers, or try soaking their feet while sipping ginger tea. 

One person bought a bag of goji berries for the first time at the supermarket, captioning the video: "Very Chinese time in my life."

These are not isolated acts of curiosity or imitation, but part of a growing global social media trend: "Becoming Chinese."

The hashtag #chinesebaddie has already garnered more than 2,300 posts in the past month, with the algorithm continuously pushing this lifestyle to a wider audience of young users.

On the surface, this appears to be a pop culture trend centered on health and lifestyle. But in the global context of 2026, it carries deeper implications. 

When US President Donald Trump officially began his second term, he brought back his "America First" agenda - marked by high tariffs, transactional diplomacy, and relentless pressure on allies - once again forcing the international community to contend with a highly unpredictable US.

A Global Times survey conducted in late December 2025, covering approximately 51,700 respondents across 46 countries and regions, found that, when asked "which country do you have a more favorable opinion of, China or the US?", 39 percent chose China - 1.5 times the number who chose the US (26 percent), while 25 percent viewed both similarly. 

Compared with 2024, the share of those expressing a more favorable view toward China rose by 9 percentage points, while the figure for the US dropped by roughly 8 percentage points.

There is a growing recognition that the US itself is becoming a source of global instability. At the same time, countries around the world increasingly view China as an anchor of stability, peace, prosperity and development, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. 

"Such reckless moves by the US are instead prompting countries to realize more clearly that China represents opportunity, prosperity and progress," he said.

Looking ahead, if the "Becoming Chinese" trend continues, or evolves into something else, is the world also entering a "Very Chinese Time"?

Turning to China amid geopolitical turbulence

A sign opposing US military intervention in Venezuela hangs on an overpass near the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2026. Photo: VCG

As 2026 is barely a month old, the US is already stirring global chaos under the "America First" banner. On January 3, US forces launched a dramatic military strike on Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The US has also seized multiple Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Caribbean, tightening control over the nation's resources.

The aggression extends further. The US has issued threats against Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico, imposed sanctions on Iran, and even targeted traditional allies. Trump has repeatedly voiced intentions to acquire Greenland "one way or another," threatening tariffs on European countries opposing the idea. Meanwhile, NBC News reported that Trump has intensified his criticism of Canada in private conversations with aides in recent weeks over what he sees as the country's vulnerability to US adversaries in the Arctic.

The Financial Times dropped a commentary on January 17 titled "Trump is making the world fall in love with China." It says, "Countries that once saw American success as their own now view the US as an adversary and Beijing as a model."

A recently published global opinion poll commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations shows that in the first year of Trump's second term, a growing number of people believe that "China's already formidable influence will grow - and that this is positive news for their own country and for the world. In other words, Trump may have shaken the globe, but the world is falling for China," the article says.

Protesters demonstrate against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis on January 18, 2026, after Renee Good was shot by an ICE officer on January 7, 2026. Photo: VCG

In this backdrop of unpredictability and coercion, many countries are pivoting politically toward China for stability.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Beijing on January 4 for a state visit to China. The visit comes as South Korea seeks to stably manage its relations with China, a key partner in trade, tourism and peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula while also maintaining a strong alliance with the US under the Lee administration's "pragmatic" diplomatic approach, the Yonhap News Agency reported. 

The UK government on Tuesday approved the plan for China's new embassy in London, multiple media outlets reported. "The UK government's final approval of the new Chinese embassy can be seen as a phased victory of pragmatic and rational diplomacy over an over-securitized mind-set in the country," Wang Hanyi, a research fellow at the China-UK Center for Cultural Exchange at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times. The decision, he said, shows that honoring international obligations and respecting sovereignty are prerequisites for the sound development of China-UK relations.

Economic realignment shifts to China

A landmark example is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's January visit to China - the first by a Canadian leader since 2017 - resulting in progress in Canada-China relations and rich trade deals. 

Western media, including The New York Times, described it as "a major policy shift" to reduce reliance on the US amid tariff threats. Carney described the trip to China as "part of a move to forge new partnerships around the world to end Canada's economic reliance on the American market," the Associated Press reported.

Unlike US calls to "bring supply chains home," China's affordable, innovative products - from EVs to AI technologies like DeepSeek - are seamlessly integrating into global daily life.

Industry data showed on January 14 that China's automobile production and sales both exceeded 34 million units in 2025, setting new record highs, offering new cooperation opportunities and helping to establish a global win-win ecosystem in this sector, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, the "Becoming Chinese" trend on TikTok is boosting consumption of traditional Chinese health products like congee ingredients and herbal teas, indirectly propelling Chinese brands globally, analysts note.

As the US stirs chaos across the globe, pushing even its own allies toward confrontation and driving up massive political and alliance costs, more countries are waking up to the true nature of the expanding American hegemony. This turmoil is making the world see clearly who the real positive force is: the one actively contributing to global security, stability, and leadership, Dun Zhigang, a research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

US' policies inflict massive shock, uncertainties, and destruction on the US itself and the world, eroding confidence in the future and breeding widespread anxiety, Dun said.

The chosen trend

A photo shows an ancient town in Chongqing on January 11, 2026, where Chinese and foreign tourists stream through the streets in an endless flow. Photo: VCG

While shifts in geopolitics and economics often require data and expert analysis to be fully understood, the "Becoming Chinese" phenomenon unfolding across social media serves as a form of global emotional expression that needs no translation.

Within this trend, Chinese-style wellness and daily routines have been rebranded as a lifestyle upgrade that is "healthier, more relaxed and more sustainable." 

A series of short videos by Chinese creator Sherry Xiiruii under the theme of "Becoming Chinese" have quickly garnered millions of views. Another creator, Emma Peng, plainly states in her video, "My culture can be your culture," with the comments section flooded with phrases like "taking notes" and "this actually works."

The trend has gained such traction that even public figures, including comedian Jimmy O Yang, have taken part. As the momentum builds, new expressions have emerged, including "Chinamaxxing" - a phrase denoting the adoption of increasingly Chinese habits - and the tongue-in-cheek blessing "u will turn Chinese tomorrow," both of which have become popular among young internet users.

Culturally, this is far from the first time China has gone viral in the past year. During last summer, US influencer Speed - known for his hyper-energetic livestreams - caused a social media sensation during his visit to China, attracting tens of millions of views across platforms. His livestreams showed genuine curiosity and enthusiasm for Chinese street food, public spaces and everyday interactions, and were widely praised by netizens in both China and abroad for their unfiltered, cross-cultural engagement.

Other notable examples include the continued popularity of Chinese dramas on international streaming platforms, rising interest in Hanfu, a type of traditional Chinese clothing, among Western youth, and the viral success of Chinese-style aesthetics and music on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

A Global Times survey conducted in late 2025 showed that over 90 percent of foreign respondents expressed their interest in China, with more than 40 percent indicating a high level of interest. 

"Culture" ranked as the top area of interest in the developed countries, while "technology" led in the developing nations. Among recent China-related trends, TikTok and online shopping were chosen by around 60 percent of the respondents, while awareness of Chinese innovations such as robots, drones and smart-driving vehicles surpassed 80 percent.

"Such a trend does not require any deliberate promotion," Li said. "Rather, it is the natural outcome of countries pursuing their own interests and making realistic assessments of the global situation, leading to closer coordination and cooperation with China."

Against this backdrop, China's culture, value propositions and practical approaches are drawing growing international attention, he noted. "Cultural phenomena can serve as symptoms or secondary indicators of geopolitical shifts, offering insights into broader global dynamics."

"It is predictable that as long as China continues its steady path, its international influence will inevitably expand," Li said. "More countries will recognize that aligning with China is choosing the right path. The overall trend is already quite clear."

By 

Shan Jie

 and 

Hu Yuwei

In-Depth reporter covering COVID-19 vaccines and health, Tibetan issue, China-ASEAN relations, among others.

Hu Yuwei, Global T imes

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View the ‘shocking’ university ranking with composure

 

Photo: VCG

The newly released "Leiden Rankings" from the Netherlands has recently drawn widespread attention. Eight of the world's top ten universities on the list are from China, with Zhejiang University ranking first, while Harvard University of the US - long a fixture at the top - fell to third place. The results sparked intense discussion. The New York Times published an in-depth analysis under the headline Chinese Universities Surge in Global Rankings as US Schools Slip, while France's Le Monde reported on January 20 that the ranking had triggered widespread shock, noting that the rise of Chinese universities has made the West less certain of itself. How should one view this "shocking" ranking? Our answer is simple: with composure.

First, the ranking does reflect, to a considerable extent, China's advances in education and science and technology. The Centre for Science and Technology Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, which publishes the ranking, is highly respected in the global field of scientometrics. The ranking focuses primarily on research output in high-impact international academic journals. Chinese scholars have ranked first globally for years in both the volume of SCI-indexed papers and citation counts. Judged by these criteria, it is hardly accidental that Chinese universities occupy eight of the top ten positions. In 2025, China's research and development (R&D) spending intensity reached 2.8 percent, surpassing the average of economies in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the first time. The rise of many Chinese universities in the rankings is therefore a natural outcome of China's long-standing commitment to the strategy of invigorating China through science and education, coupled with sustained increases in research investment.

Most of the Chinese universities ranked in the top ten are research-oriented institutions with strengths in science and engineering, such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. What the ranking effectively "captures" is the growing competitiveness of China in fields such as electronic communication, materials science, physics, and chemistry. From Huawei's 5G technologies to the Tianhe supercomputers, and to the quantum satellite "Micius," Chinese university research teams have played a direct, critical, and in-depth role behind these achievements. The continuous flow of innovation generated by Chinese universities has been a powerful driver of China's transition from a major manufacturing country to a major science and technology power.

However, it is important to remain clear-eyed about the limitations of this ranking, which has a distinct focus - or preference. It places greater emphasis on universities' performance in academic research publications, reflecting only part of the picture rather than the whole. Judged by more comprehensive indicators, the more widely recognized global university rankings remain the QS World University Rankings, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities. In these rankings, universities from the US and the UK continue to dominate the top tiers. In terms of research originality, global talent attraction, and employer reputation, established Western universities still enjoy advantages. These gaps also serve as a reminder that the overall strength of Chinese universities - particularly their capacity to translate integrated technologies into real-world applications and their models for cultivating innovative talent - still has room for further improvement. 

Even so, in early 2000, the same Leiden Ranking still had seven US universities among the top 10, while Zhejiang University only made it into the top 25. Today, although Harvard produces even more research than it did back then, it has slipped to the third place. Given the progress made by Chinese universities over the past two decades, it is hardly difficult to understand why Western media might feel "shocked." This ranking has overturned many long-held perceptions. In fact, Chinese universities did not seize the spotlight "overnight." In recent years, from advances in basic research and breakthroughs in frontier technologies to leaps in strategic industries, China's scientific and technological rise has long been visible to the world. As universities serve as a "reservoir" for scientific and technological development, it is only natural that higher education institutions have made corresponding gains.

As for some Western media outlets linking the Leiden Ranking to narratives of "shifting power" or even a "new world order," this is an overreaction. Behind such "shock" lies Western anxiety over the erosion of technological hegemony. In reality, the progress of Chinese universities does not imply the failure of the West; rather, it represents a "collective increment" in humanity's overall creation of knowledge. From Harvard's liberal education to Stanford's entrepreneurial incubation, drawing on advanced educational philosophies from developed countries has itself been part of the progress of Chinese universities. At a time when global knowledge cooperation is becoming ever more closely intertwined, only by breaking free from zero-sum thinking can humanity's scientific enterprise advance together.

In a sense, the Leiden Ranking is like a mirror, reflecting both our achievements and our shortcomings. Every year, many Chinese students cross oceans to pursue their studies, with venerable Western institutions such as Harvard and Oxford remaining their "dream schools." We also hope that in the future, more international students will come to regard Chinese universities as their own "dream schools" and choose to study in China. That would be a far more persuasive kind of "ranking." 

-  Global Times editorial

Knowledge is power when buying durian’, Musang King now RM20-30/kg

 

Tang (left) showing Mat Suaid (second right) and agriculture department staff the durians at his Gertak Sanggul orchard. The opened fruits are Black Thorn (right) and Musang King. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

BALIK Pulau durian farmers take immense pride in the varieties grown for generations in Penang.

They include the Ang Hae (Red Prawn), Hor Lor, Ang Bak and XO varieties of the fruit.

In order to avoid disappointment and paying a premium price for sub-par fruit, Southwest District Agriculture Department officer Mat Suaid Sapiyin advised durian lovers to learn to recognise the physical traits rather than trusting a seller’s claims.

“Take the much sought-after Black Thorn (Or Chi) for instance. “The premium variety is typically round and weighs between 1.5kg and 2.5kg.

“It has a prominent dot at the base resembling a thorn,” he said.

Mat Suaid encouraged consumers to familiarise themselves with the main clones from the area and verify the orchard’s location.

The Black Thorn (right) has a prominent dot at the base resembling a thorn, while Musang King (left) has a flat crown and vertical seams running down to a distinct five-point star at the base.

“Do not to be swayed by irresponsible traders or middlemen when buying the fruit.

“Choose reputable or registered farmers, check the stem, aroma and ripeness of the fruit, and ask for documentation, especially for the Geographical Indication (GI) of premium varieties.”

Mat Suaid said Penang was still in the process of implementing Mi-Trace, a QR code system developed with Mimos Bhd to help combat fraud and misrepresentation.

Farmers are also registered with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) and district agriculture office and have acquired Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (myGAP) certification to strengthen source verification of their fruits, he added.

Orchard owner Tang Boon Ley, 60, said there was also a need for processing platforms or collection centres with blast freezers, cold storage, and downstream processing facilities.

He said it could be a long-term solution for surplus durian.

“Now may be the best time for people to eat premium durian at a lower price, but eventually something must be done.”

He said such infrastructure, coupled with cooperative models, would help stabilise prices, reduce wastage and allow growers to tap into value-added products such as durian paste, ice-cream and confectionery.

Musang King now RM20-30/kg

Going easy: Tang (left) showing Fahmirudin (second from left) and other officers a particular type of durian at his orchard in Getak Sanggul, Penang. In the foreground are Musang King (left) and Or Chi durians. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: The prices have dropped but many consumers are not biting.

Musang King durian is now selling at lower prices due to oversupply but traders are not seeing roaring sales yet.

Durian orchard owner Tang Boon Ley believes this is partly due to families prioritising school expenses as the new term begins on Monday.

“Durians are not a priority for them at the moment,” he said in an interview.

Tang said Musang King is now priced between RM20 and RM30 per kg, a sharp drop from RM60 to RM80 per kg during the previous durian season from May to August.

Furthermore, he said weaker consumer spending was also due to the fact that the fruit is being sold outside the main durian season.

“This is considered a ‘bonus’ season,” he said.

Tang said the growing number of Musang King orchard owners had led to an oversupply, further driving prices down. At the same time, newer durian varieties have also entered the market, intensifying competition, he said.

“For durian lovers, this is the best time to enjoy affordable Musang King. This is expected to last until Chinese New Year.

“Prices are likely to return to normal when the new durian season begins in May,” he said.

Once the undisputed favourite among durian fans, Mu­­sang King now faces stiff competition from other varieties such as Or Chi (Black Thorn) and Tupai King.

Penang Agriculture Department assistant agricultural officer Fahmirudin Zainol Abidin said wholesale prices for Musang King have dropped significantly, as processing facilities struggle to cope with the surplus.

He said the price decline was driven by simultaneous harvesting in Penang, Perak, Pahang and Johor, with overall production estimated to have tripled.

“This is not a demand issue but a capacity problem. Excess supply has pushed prices down,” he said.

Penang has two durian seasons annually, with the harvest typically peaking in June and July.

A smaller, less predictable harvest can occur from November to January.

In identifying genuine durians from Balik Pulau, particularly Ang Hae (Red Prawn), Fahmirudin said the variety can be determined through subtle physical traits.

“Local Ang Hae typically has a slightly greyish husk and a distinctive fruit shape that differs from similarly named varieties found in Perak, Pahang or Johor.

“Or Chi, on the other hand, is recognised by its rounder shape, widely spaced thorns and a pronounced star-shaped base.

“These are the features growers use to distinguish it from Musang King,” he said.

Under­stand­ing pop­u­lar weight-loss drugs

 

The class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agon­ists have become renowned for their effects in help­ing weight loss.

MALAYSIA is the most obese and over­weight nation in Asean.

Over­weight adults form 32.6% of the pop­u­la­tion, while obese adults form another 21.8%, adding up to 54.4% of the pop­u­la­tion.

Not only that, about 29.8% of chil­dren are obese or over­weight.

In addi­tion, about 21% of Malay­si­ans are dia­betic, of which 80% are obese or over­weight.

The Health Min­istry (MOH) is intro­du­cing glu­ca­gon-like pep­tide 1 (GLP-1) medi­cines for “vul­ner­able groups” this year.

Who the vul­ner­able groups are is unclear.

However, it behoves every­one to ensure that patient safety is not com­prom­ised by the use of GLP-1 medi­cines.

How they work

GLP-1 medi­cines are receptor agon­ists that mimic the GLP-1 hor­mone that is nat­ur­ally released in the gastrointest­inal tract in response to eat­ing.

When a per­son eats, the digest­ive sys­tem breaks down car­bo­hydrates into simple sug­ars that enter the blood­stream.

GLP-1 stim­u­lates the release of insulin from the pan­creas.

Insulin, a pan­cre­atic hor­mone, helps get gluc­ose out of the blood­stream into the body’s cells, where it is used for nour­ish­ment and energy.

In dia­betes, the body’s cells are res­ist­ant to insulin, do not pro­duce suf­fi­cient insulin, or both. GLP-I medi­cines stim­u­late the pan­creas to release insulin and reduce the release of glu­ca­gon.

Both insulin and glu­ca­gon con­trol the blood gluc­ose levels in humans, includ­ing type II dia­bet­ics.

GLP-1 medi­cines also act on the brain to reduce hun­ger and delay empty­ing of the stom­ach.

These drugs are used in the man­age­ment of type II dia­betes, and in some instances, obesity in non-dia­bet­ics.

They reduce food crav­ings, increase full­ness (sati­ety), slow diges­tion and can help con­trol blood gluc­ose.

GLP-1 medi­cines were licensed for dia­betes man­age­ment in Malay­sia in 2007, and was approved for obesity man­age­ment in 2019.

As of 2025, there are more than 30 GLP-1 medi­cines registered.

There are dif­fer­ent types of GLP-1 medi­cines.

Some are injec­tions and oth­ers

are tab­lets. Some are licensed for dia­betes, and oth­ers are licensed for weight-loss man­age­ment, or to treat the over­weight with weight-related health prob­lems.

Side effects

Like all medi­cines, GLP-1 agon­ists have side effects.

The com­mon ones are gastrointest­inal, i.e. nausea, vomit­ing and diarrhoea, which are usu­ally mild to mod­er­ate, and of short dur­a­tion.

Some­times, these side effects can be ser­i­ous, lead­ing to severe dehyd­ra­tion that requires hos­pit­al­isa­tion.

A ser­i­ous, but uncom­mon, side effect is pan­cre­at­itis.

Any­one on GLP-1 medi­cine with severe abdom­inal pain that radi­ates to the back should seek imme­di­ate med­ical atten­tion.

Other ser­i­ous, but uncom­mon, side effects include: > Gast­ro­paresis – where move­ment of food out of the stom­ach is slowed or stopped > Bowel obstruc­tion – a block­age that keeps food from passing through the intest­ines > Gall­stone attacks, and

> Bile duct block­age.

Rapid weight loss can cause facial changes that include a hol­lowed look, wrinkles, sunken eyes, sag­ging jowls around the jaws and neck, and changes in the size of the lips, cheek and chin.

This is com­monly called the “Ozempic” face, after the brand name of one of the more wellknown GLP-1 med­ic­a­tions.

If the weight loss is less rapid, the facial changes would not be so obvi­ous.

Sig­ni­fic­ant facial changes can be treated by plastic sur­gery.

The sexual side effects of GLP-1 medi­cines involve both poten­tial improve­ments (through weight loss and hor­monal optim­isa­tion), and declines in libido or arousal, which is vari­able across sex and indi­vidual pro­files.

A full list of the known side effects is found in the product inform­a­tion of the indi­vidual GLP-1 medi­cine.

A recent review repor­ted that

GLP-1 medi­cines may have little or no effect on obesity-related can­cers, i.e. thyroid, breast, pan­cre­atic or kid­ney.

They may also have little or no effect on colorectal, oeso­pha­geal, liver, gall­blad­der, ovarian or endo­metrial can­cer; mul­tiple myel­oma; or men­in­gioma (low cer­tainty).

The effect on gast­ric can­cer was very uncer­tain.

Cur­rent data does not sup­port a causal asso­ci­ation between GLP-1 medi­cines and depres­sion, sui­cidal ideation and sui­cide.

Pre­cau­tions

GLP-1 medi­cines should not be taken in preg­nancy, by those who are try­ing to get preg­nant or by those who are breast­feed­ing, because there is insuf­fi­cient data on the drugs’ safety in such situ­ations.

In the case of those try­ing to get preg­nant, the num­ber of months the GLP-1 medi­cine should be stopped prior to attempt­ing con­cep­tion var­ies, depend­ing on the indi­vidual medi­cine.

Oral con­tra­cept­ive users should use bar­rier con­tra­cep­tion, e.g. con­doms, for four weeks after start­ing GLP-1 medi­cines, and for four weeks after any increase in dose.

The reason is that the GLP-1 medi­cines may reduce the effect­ive­ness of oral con­tra­cept­ives in the over­weight or obese.

Altern­at­ively, a non-oral form of con­tra­cep­tion, e.g. an intrauter­ine con­tra­cept­ive device (IUCD) or implant, which are not as affected by GLP-1 medi­cines, can be used.

Prior to a sur­gical pro­ced­ure, the patient should inform their attend­ing doc­tors and nurses if they are tak­ing GLP-1 medi­cines.

This is because these drugs slow the empty­ing of the stom­ach, thereby increas­ing the like­li­hood of stom­ach con­tents enter­ing the air­ways and lungs dur­ing the sur­gical pro­ced­ure while under gen­eral anaes­thesia or sed­a­tion.

This means that modi­fic­a­tion of the pre-pro­ced­ure instruc­tion and anaes­thetic tech­nique may be required.

The attend­ing doc­tor(s) will also advise on the tak­ing of pre­scribed medi­cine(s).

Be aware

It is vital to remem­ber that GLP-1 medi­cines are Group B pois­ons, i.e. they require a doc­tor’s pre­scrip­tion.

It is illegal to pur­chase them over the counter or through unli­censed online sellers.

Self-med­ic­a­tion is poten­tially dan­ger­ous – a mes­sage that applies not only to GLP-1 medi­cines, but also many pre­scrip­tion medi­cines.

Reports of mis­use of GLP-1 medi­cines for cos­metic weightloss pur­poses are of con­cern.

The global demand for GLP-1 medi­cines has led to the spread of false and sub­stand­ard products, with severe risks to patient safety, eco­nomic impacts and erosion of pub­lic trust.

These coun­ter­feit medi­cines often con­tain incor­rect dosages, harm­ful ingredi­ents or lack the act­ive GLP-1 entirely, lead­ing to inef­fect­ive treat­ment and poten­tially life-threat­en­ing com­plic­a­tions such as hyper/hypoglycaemia and car­di­ovas­cu­lar (heart) issues.

The eco­nomic impacts are con­sid­er­able, with sub­stan­tial costs incurred in man­aging com­plic­a­tions that include hos­pit­al­isa­tion and increased mon­it­or­ing efforts.

Guidelines for doc­tors The frame­work for GLP-1 use in Malay­sia is found in the

Clin­ical Prac­tice Guidelines for the Man­age­ment of Obesity.

GLP-1 medi­cines are recom­men­ded for adults with a body mass index (BMI) more than 30kg/m2 or a BMI more than 27kg/m2 with one weight-related con­cur­rent ill­ness, e.g. hyper­ten­sion (high blood pres­sure), type II dia­betes or dys­lip­id­aemia (abnor­mal fat levels).

The World Health Organ­iz­a­tion (WHO) launched its guideline on the use of GLP-1 ther­apies for the treat­ment of obesity in adults on Dec 1, 2025.

The good prac­tice state­ments in the guideline are:

> “Obesity is a chronic com­plex dis­ease that requires lifelong care begin­ning with clin­ical assess­ment and early dia­gnosis.

“Once dia­gnosed, indi­vidu­als should have access to com­pre­hens­ive chronic care pro­grammes offer­ing sus­tained beha­vi­oural and life­style inter­ven­tions.

“When appro­pri­ate, phar­ma­co­lo­gical, sur­gical or other thera­peutic options may be used to sup­port effect­ive dis­ease man­age­ment.

“In par­al­lel, care should address the pre­ven­tion and treat­ment of obesity-related com­plic­a­tions and comor­bid­it­ies.”

> “In adults liv­ing with obesity, GLP-1 receptor agon­ists or GIP/ GLP-1 dual agon­ists may be used as long-term treat­ment for obesity.”

> “People liv­ing with obesity should receive con­text-appro­pri­ate coun­selling on beha­vi­oural and life­style changes – includ­ing, but not lim­ited to, phys­ical activ­ity and healthy diet­ary prac­tices – as an ini­tial step toward more struc­tured beha­vi­oural inter­ven­tions.

“For indi­vidu­als who are pre­scribed GLP-1 receptor agon­ists or GIP/GLP-1 dual agon­ists, coun­selling on beha­vi­oural and life­style changes should be provided as a first step to intens­ive beha­vi­oural ther­apy to amp­lify and sup­port optimal health out­comes.

> “In adults liv­ing with obesity who are pre­scribed GLP-1 receptor agon­ists or GIP/GLP-1 dual agon­ists, intens­ive beha­vi­oural ther­apy may be provided as a co-inter­ven­tion within a com­pre­hens­ive mul­timodal clin­ical algorithm.”

The jury is out on whether the WHO good prac­tice state­ments will be imple­men­ted in toto or par­tially in MOH facil­it­ies.

Part of a strategy

Recog­nising that medi­cines by them­selves would not by them­selves address the global obesity chal­lenge, the WHO recom­men­ded a com­pre­hens­ive strategy based on:

> “Cre­at­ing health­ier envir­on­ments through robust pop­u­la­tion-level policies to pro­mote health and pre­vent obesity. > “Pro­tect­ing indi­vidu­als at high risk of devel­op­ing obesity and related comor­bid­it­ies through tar­geted screen­ing and struc­tured early inter­ven­tions. > “Ensur­ing access to lifelong per­son-centred care.”

The safe use of GLP-1 medi­cines requires reg­u­lated dis­tri­bu­tion and pre­scrip­tion by doc­tors, strong over­sight, patient edu­ca­tion and stake­hold­ers’ cooper­a­tion to ensure that pub­lic health is pro­tec­ted.

Dr Milton Lum is a past pres­id­ent of the Fed­er­a­tion of Private Med­ical Prac­ti­tion­ers Asso­ci­ations and the Malay­sian Med­ical Asso­ci­ation. For more inform­a­tion, email star­health@the­star.com.my. The views expressed do not rep­res­ent that of organ­isa­tions that the writer is asso­ci­ated with. The inform­a­tion provided is for edu­ca­tional and com­mu­nic­a­tion pur­poses only, and it should not be con­strued as per­sonal med­ical advice. Inform­a­tion pub­lished in this art­icle is not inten­ded to replace, sup­plant or aug­ment a con­sulta­tion with a health pro­fes­sional regard­ing the reader’s own med­ical care. The Star dis­claims all respons­ib­il­ity for any losses, dam­age to prop­erty or per­sonal injury suffered dir­ectly or indir­ectly from reli­ance on such inform­a­tion.

The doc­tor says by DR MILTON LUM 18 Jan 2026

Mandarin, a good lesson for the future

 

SHAH ALAM: It’s a common wish list for non-Chinese parents who send their children to Chinese schools.

“I want her to learn and converse in Mandarin,” said Megat Azri Hakim Sazali of his daughter Puteri Humaira Rose, seven, who is enrolled at SJK(C) Ladang Regent, Elmina, here.

In fact, he had been preparing her for the past three years by sending her to a Mandarin-medium kindergarten.

“This means that she would not face a ‘culture shock’ when attending school.

“The kindergarten prepared her well. She was given a lot of homework even then!”

Exam review: Fadhlina says the ministry will consider parents’ views on the abolition of UPSR and PT3, as well as Classroom-Based Assessment performance levels, in its review on reinstating the two national exams. — Bernama

Another parent, Mohd Azwan Mohd Noor, said it was important for him that his three daughters – nine-year-old twins and an eight-year-old – could converse in Mandarin.

“China is now a powerful economy in the world. Being able to converse in Mandarin would be an advantage,” he said.

Another important factor is that Chinese schools attract a mix of students from different races, he added.

For Shakilla Khoriri, the chance to educate her daughter in Man­darin was too good to pass up.

She wanted her daughter Nurul Ameena Sofia Muhd Hafizudin, seven, to embrace the discipline practised in Chinese schools.

“Children nowadays are growing up in a different world, one where if we as parents are not careful, they will get ‘lost’,” she said.

First-day nerves: A pupil crying on the first day of school at SJK(C) Ladang Regent, Elmina. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

“I want my daughter to interact and pick up the good habits of the students in Chinese schools.

“At the same time, she would be able to converse in Mandarin with them.”

Shakilla had earlier intended to send her daughter to a private school, which was further away from their home.

“But when I heard that a Chinese school was opening up here, I immediately enrolled (her),” she said.

Another parent, Krishnaveni Janardanan, said it was her husband who suggested that their daughter attend a Chinese school.

She said the ability to speak fluent Mandarin opens up nume­rous opportunities in today’s working world.

“Lucky for us, the government had opened a Chinese school here in Elmina where I live,” she said.

Happy tummies: Pupils posing as they finish their breakfast during recess at SJK(C) Ladang Regent, Elmina. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

For these children, their first day of school saw them attending Year One classes where the tea­chers gave out instructions purely in Mandarin.

But they seemed to have no trouble following the classes, as most of them had been learning Mandarin since kindergarten.

Yesterday marked not only the first day of the 2026 school year but also the launch of SJK(C) Ladang Regent, Elmina.

Its board of directors chairman Datuk Dr Azman Ching said there are around 300 students enrolled at the school, which was reloca­ted from Gemencheh, Negri Sembilan.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, who was present at the launch, said all stakehol­ders will soon be required to sign the Child Protection Policy as a pledge to safeguard children.

“We are not going to compromise on this matter. It is our shared responsibility to ensure our schools are safe and our children are protected,” she said.

The ministry will also be distributing a Safe Schools book to students and parents, she added.

Fadhlina also said the ministry is taking into account all views from parents regarding the abolish­ment of the Ujian Pen­taksiran Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) examinations, as well as the performance levels for the Classroom-Based Assessments, when they begin reviewing the reinstatement of the two national examinations.

“The review will be held this year and we will announce (the results) as soon as possible,” she said.

Last week, the minister said that she had reactivated the National Education Advisory Council to study the need to revive the two examinations.

UPSR was abolished in 2021, followed by PT3 in 2022, and both were replaced with School-Based Assessment.

More than five million students began the 2026 school year nationwide since Sunday.