Economy

Chinese President Xi Jinping is pushing his signature Belt and Road Initiative with the goal of creating a massive economic zone that will link China to Europe by land and sea.
Comment

Russia is in danger of being overrun by China's Belt and Road

A new Eurasian order is in the making, with Beijing in the driver's seat

17 August 2019
Kazakhstan's interim president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has promised to write off the mortgage and tax debts of low-income people, straining the government's budget.
Economy

Kazakhstan's political uncertainty weighs on its currency

Transition to permanent president and the ruble to determine tenge's value

29 July 2019
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left and Chinese President Xi Jinping: Political and economic leaders in Russia are concerned about their country's trade status with its more economically powerful neighbor.
Comment

Russia's cozy economic ties with China are not all they seem

Moscow chafes at junior partner status in trade fully dependent on oil and gas

4 July 2019
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet Saturday on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka. (Photo by Nozomu Ogawa)
International relations

Japan and Russia look for momentum on peace treaty at G-20

Abe and Putin agree to hasten negotiations based on Soviet-Japanese declaration of 1956

30 June 2019
Russia wants to send more LNG from plants in the Arctic to Japan and other Asian countries.
Energy

Exclusive: Russia to boost LNG output fivefold to supply Asia

Utilizing the Arctic, Moscow eyes 20% global market share, energy minister says

13 June 2019
The Northern Sea route could cut journey times from east Asia to Europe by 40% over the passage through the Suez Canal. 
Opinion

Nordic nations can stand up to China in the Arctic

Cooperation with Russia boosts Beijing's position but West has key cards to play

13 June 2019
Workers next to tanks for liquefied natural gas in China's Shaanxi Province. China views Russia as an alternative source for the fuel as tariffs push up prices of American gas.
International relations

Chinese and Russian companies ink $20bn in business deals

Beijing seeks alternatives to tariff-hit American gas and soybeans

7 June 2019
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands at a meeting in Moscow on June 5.
International relations

China doubles down on Russia ties to offset US pressure

Xi denounces 'protectionism' as he and Putin agree to strengthen partnership

6 June 2019
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told a ruling party convention on April 23 he would ensure the "continuity" of his predecessor's policies, including on the economy and foreign trade.
Politics

Former Kazakh strongman backs successor in presidential election

New leader faces task of jump-starting growth and foreign direct investment

24 April 2019
China, Russia and Turkey have been buying gold to replace U.S. Treasury bonds as they look to reduce their reliance on the dollar.
Commodities

China builds up gold reserves in shift away from dollar

Currency weakness and tensions with US spur moves to diversify

24 January 2019
This 450,000-ton crude oil import terminal near the eastern Chinese city of Zhoushan came into service in 2018.  
Economy

China, Russia and EU edge away from petrodollar

Rise of US unilateralism raises concern about relying on greenback for oil trade

7 January 2019
The U.S. is growing wary of information leaks via telecommunications equipment made by Huawei Technologies and other Chinese brands.
Trade war

China may be spying, but it learned from the best -- the US

Modern espionage is all about chips and software, not secret agents

23 December 2018
A Rosneft Vietnam worker stands on the Lan Tay gas platform in the South China Sea.
International relations

Vietnam and Russia expand joint South China Sea gas projects

Moves to ease dependence on Beijing threatens to sharpen regional conflict

30 November 2018
Japan is set to spend over 1 trillion yen to procure more F-35s like this one.
International relations

Japan to order 100 more F-35 fighters from US

Move comes in response to China's military rise and Trump's pressure

27 November 2018
Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to strengthen his country's ties with ASEAN members.
International relations

Russia draws closer to Southeast Asia with arms and energy trade

Putin to attend regional summit to build on economic and political cooperation

14 November 2018
© Illustration by Michael Tsang
Asia Insight

US-China trade war weaponizes liquefied natural gas

Beijing turns to Russia and Iran, leaving Trump a void to fill

9 October 2018
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Friday.
International relations

China is 'champion of multilateralism,' foreign minister says

Wang talks of 'world order,' while Russia's Lavrov blasts 'Western states'

29 September 2018
SUEK, Russia’s largest coal producer, intends to boost sales to Thailand, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. (Courtesy of SUEK).
Commodities

Russia to take on Australia and Indonesia in Asian coal market

Tough share battle likely as consumption declines in Europe

16 September 2018
Chinese President Xi Jinping at a session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 12.
International relations

Xi courts friends worldwide as trade war drags on

Beijing cultivates traditional American allies like Japan, Europe and India

13 September 2018
Beijing funded this China-Turkmenistan pipeline for natural gas. Turkmenistan may have trouble repaying its debts to China as gas exports drop sharply.
Belt and Road

Belt and Road debt trap spreads to Central Asia

China exploits rift between US and Russia to court Ukraine

29 August 2018
Emerging countries in Asia and authoritarian governments are stocking up on gold.
Economy

Emerging countries snap up gold to cut dollar dependence

Nations in conflicts with the US prepare for Trump sanctions and possible economic downturn

28 August 2018
Workers position a dome during the construction of the Tianwan nuclear power station in China's Jiangsu Province. The Tianwan station uses a reactor designed by Russia. (Getty Images)
Energy

Russia on an international offensive to sell its nuclear plants

Vladimir Putin's government vies with China to become a superpower in the field

12 August 2018
Dalian Wanda and other Chinese companies account for a third of FIFA's official top-level partners and World Cup sponsors.
International relations

World Cup hosting bid strengthens as China pours in billions

Chinese companies now FIFA's leading source of financial support after scandals

1 July 2018
North Korean Vice Railroad Minister Kim Yun Hyok, left, with his South Korean counterpart Vice Transport Minister Kim Jeong-ryeol at a meeting at the border village of Panmunjom in South Korea on June 26.
N Korea at crossroads

Two Koreas agree to modernize North Korean railways

Seoul's Eurasian railroad dream comes one step closer

26 June 2018
A worker in Belgrade, Serbia, walks on a site where a railway line to Budapest, Hungary, is being rebuilt.
International relations

China unsettles EU with Belt and Road moves in the Balkans

Beijing's influence in Europe's 'powder keg' risks stoking old rivalries

25 May 2018