Economy

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
Large swaths of the Kashmir region have remained in a communications blackout since Aug. 5.
International relations

India's stature helps mute responses to Kashmir power grab

Pakistan seeks Security Council meeting but Russia has already backed the move

14 August 2019
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoyed a landslide electoral victory in May, but building economic gloom is already casting a shadow over his government's second term. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
The Big Story

Modi seeks reforms to India's stuttering economy

Landslide victory gives reelected prime minister a second chance at 'Modinomics'

14 August 2019
Top Glove denied the forced labor claims, but admitted that overtime had exceeded national regulations.
Opinion

Asia Pacific companies need to face up to migrant labor problems

Investors and advocacy groups step up calls for transparency

14 August 2019
Narendra Modi visits Sri Lanka in June 2019: if connectivity initiatives have to succeed, "we must also build bridges of trust," said Modi.
Opinion

India responds to Belt and Road Initiative with infrastructure push

New Delhi does not want China to dominate its backyard so has started spending

13 August 2019
Solar panels could provide an efficient option in tropical nations requiring significant new generating capacity.
Opinion

Asia is the right place for a US 'Green New Deal'

Funding environmentally friendly projects would curb emissions and provide BRI alternative

7 August 2019
Workers at a garment factory in Bangladesh. South Korean companies, whose transfer of technical know-how helped Bangladesh become the world’s second-largest textiles exporter, are looking at the potential of other emerging sectors. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Economy

Bangladesh aims to leap beyond textiles with help from South Korea

Garment export leader expands into tech, energy and other emerging industries

31 July 2019