Economy

Icons of Chinese online apps are pictured with that of Facebook: supporting concentrated monopolies has become official policy across much of Asia.
Opinion

Asia's regulators ignore rising influence of Big Tech at their peril

Market power of Alibaba, Reliance, Tencent and Gojek could outweigh US behemoths

5 August 2020
The cities of Seoul, left, and Tokyo both offer various advantages for businesses looking to move people out of Hong Kong. (Source photos by AFP/Jiji)
Media & Entertainment

New York Times move shows Seoul ready to rival Tokyo as Asia hub

South Korean capital has become an outward-looking and tech-savvy city

3 August 2020
A view of a container port at Busan, South Korea taken on June 10. South Korea's export-oriented economy has been dragged into recession by the new coronavirus.
Economy

South Korea enters first recession in 17 years as exports plummet

GDP contracts 3.3% in second quarter, but economists see a rebound

23 July 2020
Homeowners and buyers in Seoul are angry at South Korean President Moon Jae-in's attempts to fix the city's housing crisis.
Economy

Moon's bid to tame Seoul property prices backfires

Approval dives on boiling anger over officials' home ownership double standards

22 July 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday the "K-New Deal" will be the starting point for the country to lead the post-coronavirus world.
Economy

K-New Deal: South Korea to invest $133bn in digital, green sectors

President Moon Jae-in aims to create 1.9 million jobs by 2025

14 July 2020
Narita Airport near Tokyo and other Japanese flight hubs aim to nearly double coronavirus testing capacity by August. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
International relations

Japan looks to reopen business travel with 10 more Asian economies

China, South Korea and Singapore among candidates for new air bridges

9 July 2020
Since Chinese tourists contribute about A$12 billion to Australia's  economy each year, Beijing wants Canberra to pay a price for biting the hand that feeds it.
Opinion

China's economic bullying will never work

Beijing has threatened Australia, Japan and others with tariffs and tourism cuts

8 July 2020
Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon leads opinion polls of likely successors to President Moon Jae-in. (Photo by Yosuke Onchi)
Politics

South Korean ex-PM's bid for party post offers path to presidency

Lee Nak-yon, seen as possible successor to Moon, runs for chairman of Democrats

8 July 2020
A textile worker lies down outside a factory after it was shut due to the lockdown in Bhiwandi, India, on Apr. 1: the worst is yet to come as a severe export slump lies ahead.
Opinion

Asia has an unemployment crisis waiting to happen

Export collapse will expose how tenuous many workers' jobs are

1 July 2020
Japan has suffered a big drop in tourist arrivals due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Japan business sentiment plunges to 11-year low: BOJ Tankan

Big manufacturers see recovery as China and South Korea speed 5G rollout

1 July 2020
 Passengers walk through Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on June 8. Thailand is extending its coronavirus state of emergency for a third time but will also further ease restrictions, including some covering travel into the kingdom. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Coronavirus

Thailand stays under COVID-19 emergency with third extention

Curbs will be eased, paving way for allowing business travel from Japan and China

30 June 2020
South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee said Wednesday she is running to be the next director general of the WTO. (Yonhap/Kyodo)
Trade

South Korea's trade minister announces bid to lead WTO

Amid Seoul-Tokyo export spat, Yoo vows to reform body under fire from Trump

24 June 2020
The pandemic-induced slowdown may offer the Asia-Pacific region a prime opportunity not only to catch up on environmental targets, but also to lay the groundwork for a greener future. © Illustration by Hiroko Oshima
Asia Insight

Asia risks missing 'green' economic reset after coronavirus

Except in South Korea, experts see absence of environmental resolve in region

23 June 2020
Travelers wearing face masks are seen at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thailand wants to create "travel corridors" or "travel bubbles" with certain countries, including China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Economy

Thailand fights to revive reputation as top tourist destination

COVID-19 tracing measures and troubled Thai Airways' cloud tourism revival

15 June 2020
A child and her mother rest inside a shelter for people who are unable to feed themselves in Manila on April 1: developing Asia must bail out households.
Opinion

Asia needs rapid action to prevent millions falling into poverty

Coronavirus shock exposes how unstable economic growth has been

15 June 2020
At a meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing in May, members proposed a plan to create an East Asia digital currency based on a basket of Asian currencies.
Comment

China takes battle for cryptocurrency hegemony to new stage

Beijing backs private-sector-led East Asia digital money in challenge to US

14 June 2020
Vietnam is anxious to resume international flights, especially those between important trade and tourist partners, in hopes of restarting its stalled economy.
Economy

Vietnam to resume flights to Guangzhou, Taiwan, Seoul and Tokyo

Hanoi to make crucial step to reach 5% GDP growth target to rise from pandemic

11 June 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump described the group as “outdated” while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One on May 30.
International relations

Trump's G-7 expansion falls flat on reluctance to exclude China

Moscow uneager to alienate Beijing; members cool on Russia re-entry

3 June 2020
South Koreans have been busy shopping at small retailers since the middle of May, when the government began putting cash equivalents into their credit card accounts.
Coronavirus

South Korea proves governments can quickly hand out cash

It took 2 weeks for 97% of country's households to receive emergency funds

2 June 2020
The Takashimaya department store in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district has re-opened after being shuttered for more than a month. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Coronavirus

Japan fears Korean-style second wave of coronavirus

New clusters appear as malls and gyms reopen after emergency lifted

30 May 2020
The 25 basis point cut has lowered the benchmark rate to its lowest point since the Bank of Korea adopted its current policy system in 1999.
Economy

South Korea cuts key rate to record low 0.5% to fight COVID-19 hit

Central bank slashes economic forecast to contraction of 0.2% this year

28 May 2020
Asia is exercising an advantage over the "wild" West, remaining more cautious about reopening stores and restaurants amid the risk of additional novel coronavirus outbreaks. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
The Big Story

Exits from coronavirus lockdown split 'wild' West from 'cautious' East

Economies are impatient to reopen. Experts say it will trigger a second wave of infections

27 May 2020
A wind power plant on top of a mountain in Pyeongchang: South Korea's New Green Deal includes substantial investment in renewable energy.
Opinion

South Korea is using coronavirus stimulus to green the economy

Rest of Asia should follow Seoul, supporting renewable energy and helping environment

15 May 2020
Chinese components made 42% of the total value of parts used in Huawei's new 5G smartphone, Mate 30, much higher than those used in its last model, Mate 20 Pro.
Huawei crackdown

Huawei teardown shows US ban made company turn to Chinese parts

Flagship model Mate 30 now only has 1% American components

14 May 2020
Busan is South Korea's second largest city in terms of both population and economic activity. Despite government efforts to support industry, the city has recorded tepid growth in recent years.
Economy

Boxes, barrels and problems pile up at South Korea's biggest port

Busan's economy was struggling even before the coronavirus outbreak

12 May 2020