Economy

The U.S. and Japan see data transfer frameworks reaching their limits with the involvement of Russia and China.
Economy

New data transfer rules pursued to keep out China and Russia

Japan, U.S. and South Korea seek alternative to APEC framework

16 May 2022
A Russian tanker delivers oil to Norway in April. The European Union announced a proposed ban on Russian oil imports last week.
Trade

Russian oil tankers turn to stealth shipments under sanctions

Ship data shows sharp rise in crude with no set destination

12 May 2022
The rush for tech M&As in Asia has slowed to a crawl in China and South Korea. (Source photos by Reuters)
26 April 2022
A Japanese-made liquefied natural gas carrier anchored near an LNG plant on the Russian island of Sakhalin.
Energy

Japan fears China-Russia LNG alliance after Shell exits Sakhalin-2

Tokyo could see its import quotas reduced under new ownership

23 April 2022
"The world’s democracies will not stand idly by in the face of continued Russian aggression and war crimes," Canadian Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, fifth from left, tweeted with this photo, explaining the walkout. (From Freeland's Twitter account)
Ukraine war

G-20 tensions mount as Western finance ministers walk out on Russia

Economic recovery from pandemic among issues on the agenda

21 April 2022
A journalist sees a screen of his smartphone in Pokrov, Russia, on March 22: Overly broad restrictions on the access to the internet would further isolate the embattled pro-democracy and anti-war activists.
Opinion

Cutting Russia off from the internet would be deeply problematic

Online access is increasingly being recognized as a human right

19 April 2022
The Mallnow compressor station which mainly receives Russian natural gas in Brandenburg, Germany, on March 29: Gas supplies are harder to reroute.
Opinion

A ban on Russian energy will hurt Europe more than it helps Ukraine

Western governments should avoid 'act now, think later' policies

14 April 2022
Containers are stacked at the Chinese port of Qingdao. Chinese imports from Russia grew 26% in March. (Xinhua via Kyodo)
Trade

China, South Korea lift Russian energy imports, eroding sanctions

Even countries opposing Moscow take advantage of discounts

14 April 2022
People walk past the Russia Central Bank headquarters in Moscow.
Currencies

Russia boosted yuan holdings over dollar just before invasion

Shift in foreign currency reserves made to minimize fallout from sanctions

14 April 2022
An employee inspects a wellhead at an oil field in Irkutsk, Russia. Energy-related exports make up around half of Russian exports.
Ukraine war

Russian export shutdown would cut 28% of GDP: Nikkei estimate

Energy imports by West hold key to maximizing Moscow's economic pain

11 April 2022
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Lubmin, Germany. Its certification was suspended during the run-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 
Ukraine war

G-7 resists going after $1bn-a-day Russian energy revenue

Despite civilian killings, West and Japan avoid painful cuts

8 April 2022
An LNG plant of the Sakhalin-2 project: the responses of Mitsubishi and Mitsui were meek and muted in a shy Japanese way.
Opinion

Japan is right to defer Russia sanctions to the government

Kishida takes official responsibility for remaining in Russian energy projects

2 April 2022
Japan says it is prioritizing energy security in declaring it will not withdraw from three Russian energy projects, including this one off the coast of Sakhalin, north of Hokkaido.
Ukraine war

Japan will maintain Russia oil and gas projects: economy minister

Koichi Hagiuda cites energy security as reason to stay in Sakhalin and Arctic

1 April 2022
A portrait of Vladimir Putin and the letter Z, a symbol of the Russian military, displayed in the window of a children's library in St. Petersburg on Mar. 11: Western leaders' calls for the removal of the Russian president will serve to further unite people.
Opinion

Russians will continue to back Vladimir Putin

People are yet to link economic downturn with events in Ukraine

31 March 2022
As the conflict in Ukraine rages, war insurance can give shippers some peace of mind as their freight travels via the China-Europe Railway Express.
Supply Chain

China opens wallet to keep trans-Eurasian express moving

Operators cover 'war insurance' and slash rates

28 March 2022
A containership off Singapore: Europe accounts for 9% of ASEAN exports, according to Maybank.
Ukraine war

ASEAN faces 'collateral damage' from Ukraine war's Europe impact

From Singapore to Thailand, spillover threatens COVID-hit economies anew

27 March 2022
Geopolitics will, at some stage, force banks to choose between the dollar framework and a rival yuan system.
Opinion

The risks of a global financial schism are mounting

Precedent set by Russian sanctions dramatically increases geopolitical instability

27 March 2022
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his army ousted Myanmar's elected government in a military takeover on Feb. 1 last year, and Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 this year. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/Getty Images/PTTEP）
25 March 2022
A tanker carrying U.S. LNG arrives in Japan. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanafusa)
Energy

Replacing Russian LNG from Sakhalin-2 would cost Japan $15bn

Price tag for imports to jump 35% if Mitsui, Mitsubishi pull out of energy project

22 March 2022
Prime Minister Kisida announces that Japan will no longer treat Russia as a "most favored nation." (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Ukraine war

Japan revokes Russia's 'most favored' status over Ukraine

Kishida mentions Sakhalin-2 LNG project in regard to Japan's energy security

16 March 2022
The Kremlin towers is reflected in a display of McDonald's on Mar 9, which temporarily close all of its restaurants in Russia: the massive actions taken by multinationals will probably bring China to a rethinking.
Opinion

China can see the limits of bailing out Russia's economy

Beijing will support Moscow as long as it does not fall foul of Western sanctions

14 March 2022
As Russia is discovering, the ability to access currency reserves depends on the goodwill of G-7 nations.
Opinion

Japan's banks suddenly hold huge leverage over China's economy

Accessing dollars outside the U.S. is not as easy as it sounds

14 March 2022
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang parried questions about why Beijing had not condemned Russia's invasion.
China People's Congress

China's Li calls Ukraine crisis 'disconcerting' and urges cease-fire

In last news conference, premier says achieving 5.5% growth 'will not be easy'

11 March 2022
Building of the Long Phu 1 thermal power plant has been delayed in Vietnam's Mekong Delta because of U.S. sanctions against a Russian contractor. (Photo courtesy of PetroVietnam's PTSC)
Ukraine war

SWIFT sanctions add twist to Vietnam-Russia coal plant dispute

Hanoi refrains from condemning Ukraine invasion by its old Soviet partner

10 March 2022
Although only a few countries are restricting imports of Russian oil, many companies are shying away from the fuel over logistical and ethical concerns.
10 March 2022