[10] Chua moved to New York in 2005 and worked as The Wall Street Journal's assistant managing editor for budget and administration until 2008.

[1][5][8] In July 2009, Chua was named editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong and stepped down in March 2011.

[9] She also created and found funding for a fellowship to bring Asian journalists for a Masters' in business and economic reporting at New York University.

[9] In 2021, Chua was named the inaugural recipient of the Online News Association's Impact Award for "her dedication to innovation in visual storytelling and steadfast commitment to mentor journalists and address structural issues in the industry.

[1][5] Chua is the partner of Filipino journalist and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism director Sheila Coronel.