Economy

© Illustration by Hiroko Oshima/Michael Tsang
Asia Insight

Nepal's territorial flare-ups with India and China test its finesse

Public outcries imperil Himalayan nation's development strategy

3 December 2019
A recent speech by a U.S. diplomat marked the first time a high-ranking U.S. government official had launched a direct and comprehensive attack on CPEC. (Source photo by AP)
Belt and Road

US attack on China's Belt and Road puts Pakistan in tough spot

Islamabad sides with Beijing over CPEC but keeps response measured

28 November 2019
People wait to check if their names are included in the National Register of Citizens at a draft center in Mayoung, India, pictured in July 2018: migration from Bangladesh has become politically explosive in India.
Opinion

China and India must address causes of migration to stop human traffic

Larger Asian countries are closing their borders, just like West and Gulf states

25 November 2019
India's light combat aircraft Tejas lands at an airbase on the outskirts of New Delhi in October. The fighter is claimed to be a good choice to upgrade Malaysia's air force.
Politics

Malaysia considers purchase of Indian jet fighters

Kashmir tensions fail to stymie trade as Kuala Lumpur looks to upgrade air force

24 November 2019
Pakistan's moves to free itself from the current CPEC inertia come as China has turned chilly toward the series of big infrastructure projects. (Nikkeimontage/Reuters/Getty Images)
Belt and Road

Pakistan seeks Iran, Saudi help for Belt and Road projects

Beijing-friendly minister hired as Islamabad scrambles to revive momentum

23 November 2019
Sri Lanka plans a $500 million samurai bond issue, hoping to shore up its depleted foreign reserves and keep its economy ticking over.
International relations

Debt-heavy Sri Lanka seeks Japan's help and prepares samurai bond

Slow growth an obstacle for economy as IMF bailout conditions dent consumption

13 November 2019
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, right in a red shirt, is seen as proxy of his brother Mahinda, left.
Opinion

Tilt toward China is at stake in Sri Lanka's presidential election

Candidates' foreign policy platforms have sharply different economic consequences

13 November 2019
A railway worker in Karachi: China is becoming wary of pouring more money into projects in economically unstable Pakistan.
Belt and Road

China's mood chills on new Belt and Road projects in Pakistan

Cautious amid economic crisis, Beijing defers oil, gas and steel offers

10 November 2019
Pakistan has sold 16 JF-17 fighters, built with China's help, to Myanmar and three to Nigeria.
Politics

With China as its mentor, Pakistan triples arms exports

Islamabad pitches its weapons to budget-minded countries like Turkey and Myanmar

9 November 2019
An aircraft from India's Alliance Air touches down at Jaffna International Airport on Oct. 17. The flight was part of a ceremony inaugurating the country's third international airport. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara)
International relations

Sri Lanka plays its India hand with airport upgrade as poll nears

Pro-China opposition decries pork-barrel politics ahead of presidential election

6 November 2019
The talks between representatives of Taliban militants and a number of Afghan political factions in Beijing come as the U.S. has yet to resume peace talks with the Taliban. (Nikkei Montage)
Belt and Road

China to host Afghan rivals in drive to expand Belt and Road

Taliban included in peace talks as Beijing aims to isolate Xinjiang separatists

27 October 2019
Pakistani President Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi speaks to the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Interview

Pakistan president sees Belt and Road as path to poverty relief

Alvi says economy is on mend as money laundering and corruption subside

23 October 2019
Women and children cross a bridge along the Karachi Circular Railway in poor neighborhood in Karachi: Problems obtaining loans for the railway from China has local leaders looking for help from Japan.
Belt and Road

Pakistan's stalled China-backed rail project prompts turn to Japan

Regional leaders show 'buyer's remorse' over cost of Belt and Road loans

19 October 2019
India's bicycle industry has been hit hard by a surge in imports from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Economy

India accuses China over influx of cheap bicycles from neighbors

New Delhi probes possible breach of trade deal by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

17 October 2019
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, left, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meet in Beijing on Oct. 8. The Pakistani government's decision to set up an agency to push Belt and Road came on the eve of Khan's visit.
Belt and Road

Pakistan's Khan uses special ordinance to push China's Belt and Road

Powerful new agency and tax holiday for Gwadar port operator likely to fuel controversy

13 October 2019
Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, is due to speak at China-Pakistan business forum on Tuesday.
Belt and Road

Pakistan's Khan to allay Beijing fears over stalled Belt and Road

Prime minister wants more investment despite mounting CPEC concerns

7 October 2019
Tsai Ing-wen rejuvenated the New Southbound Policy in 2016 while Beijing launched its measures to bring Taipei back into line.
Opinion

Taiwan's New Southbound Policy is decreasing its reliance on China

Looking to regional neighbors for closer trade relationships is bearing fruit

4 October 2019
Onion prices more than doubled in recent weeks after floods damaged crops across the country. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
Economy

India's eye-watering onion prices put extra pressure on Modi

Government bans exports and warns 'unscrupulous' merchants against hoarding

4 October 2019
Grameenphone, the largest mobile phone operator in Bangladesh, was asked earlier this year to pay a total of over $1.5 billion in unpaid taxes and penalties for failing to meet revenue-sharing obligations. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
Economy

Fearing a loss of investment, Bangladesh assuages multinationals

Minister to mediate telcos' tax dispute while secretary to lobby drug giant Sanofi

29 September 2019
Bangladesh plans to create new casino zones to increase foreign tourist arrivals.
Economy

Bangladesh wants in on Asia's crowded casino market

Government weighs tourists-only gambling amid crackdown on illegal dens

27 September 2019
Efforts by Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue have increased the tax roll and chipped away at the country's image of being rife with tax cheats.
Economy

Pakistan registers a million new taxpayers ahead of IMF review

Terms of $6bn loan create headwinds for growth and business confidence

26 September 2019
Workers load garbage into a dump truck at a trash dump teeming with plastic bags in Islamabad. 
Environment

Pakistan moves to ban plastic bags

Urgent tweet prompts government action, but experts warn results may take years

6 September 2019
From left, Naypyidaw, Putrajaya and Astana (source photo from Reuters)
Politics

A short history of relocating capitals in Asia

Indonesia's move has precedents in places such as Myanmar and Malaysia

30 August 2019
Singapore plans to keep water at bay by building giant seawalls.
Opinion

Asia's megacities must learn from Indonesia's capital move

Few others can afford Singapore's pricey climate crisis plan

27 August 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives his Independence Day speech on Aug. 15, in which he insisted that scrapping the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was necessary for the region's development.
International relations

Kashmir looms over Modi's trip to France and Middle East

Indian PM makes countermove as Pakistan vows to take dispute to Hague

22 August 2019