Economy

A Pakistani soldier guards a container ship set to sail after the inauguration of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor port in Gwadar in November 2016.
Belt and Road

Pakistani militants opposing Belt and Road kill 14 security men

Attack on oil workers part of spreading separatist threats to China-led projects

16 October 2020
Transparency International's "Exporting Corruption 2020" report lists only four countries worldwide as practicing "active" enforcement against bribery of foreign public officials.
Economy

China, Japan and India lag behind in international bribery battle

Report warns of lax enforcement and risk of undermining COVID recoveries

13 October 2020
A health care worker in protective gear swabs a construction worker for a rapid antigen test at a construction site in Ahmedabad.
Coronavirus

India unveils new measures to spur domestic demand

Government hopes coronavirus-hit economy will see $10bn boost

13 October 2020
Construction workers build Beijing's new National Speed Skating Oval on Sept. 23 -- one of many infrastructure projects now underway in China.
Economy

China and India infrastructure construction paves way out of crisis

Governments look to buoy COVID-hit economies, setting builders on recovery path

12 October 2020
Sri Lanka's government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa desperately needs cash to service over $15 billion in foreign debt. (Source photos by Reuters) 
International relations

Sri Lanka turns to China rather than IMF to avoid default

Relations with US-led multilateral lender strained by past misadventures

12 October 2020
A man and two children have their photograph taken in front of the Taj Mahal after authorities reopened the monument to visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic in Agra, India on Sept. 21.
Economy

India's central bank predicts economy to shrink 9.5%

RBI offers first GDP estimate for fiscal year, while keeping policy rate on hold

9 October 2020
A healthcare worker in protective gear takes a swab from a man for a rapid coronavirus antigen test at a kiosk in Ahmedabad, India on Oct. 5.
Coronavirus

India's COVID-19 arc slows as daily testing capacity hits 1.5m

Experts see hopeful sign but warn against complacency amid reduced restrictions

7 October 2020
An internet user looks at a Facebook page at a cafe in Hanoi: digital protectionism is on the rise.
Opinion

Asian 'splinternet' threatens cross-border data collaboration

Why digital protectionism damages Asia's economic growth, innovation and security

7 October 2020
An air service agreement between Bangladesh and the U.S. is just one sign of growing relations between the countries. (Source photo by Reuters) 
International relations

US rush to Bangladesh revs up economic race with China

Washington signs air pact with Dhaka to further Indo-Pacific agenda

6 October 2020
Stacks of containers are seen at Tanjung Priok port amid the coronavirus outbreak in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 3.
Economy

India and ASEAN set to return to growth in early 2021: JCER

Survey shows curbing COVID and income support keys to economic recovery

6 October 2020
India's reputation took a big hit when it slapped Vodafone with a $2.7 billion capital gains tax bill.
Opinion

India must end tax terror spooking foreign investors

Modi government's pursuit of retroactive taxes is making a bad situation worse

6 October 2020
Climate change is altering Asia's seasonal monsoons, making rainfall more concentrated and exposing tens of millions to dangerous and economically damaging flooding.
Asia Insight

Flooded Asia: Climate change hits region the hardest

From China and India to Vietnam, millions face economic peril in coming years

6 October 2020
Shoppers at an outdoor vegetable and fruit market in Ahmedabad on Sept. 7: India's consumer price index for vegetables jumped 11% in August. 
Economy

Rising food prices take rate cuts off table for emerging economies

Pandemic induces inflation even as India, Turkey and Brazil battle downturn

5 October 2020
Demonstrators hold a placard during a protest rally against the rape of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Kolkata on Sept. 30: what we see is a travesty of justice.
Opinion

India, where brutality against women knows few equals

Shameful distinction the result of society's collective failure

3 October 2020
The only way to eliminate the threat of COVID-19 somewhere is to eliminate it everywhere.
Opinion

A three-part plan to eliminate COVID-19

We need capacity, funding and systems to deliver to vaccinate people

30 September 2020
Last November, India announced it was pulling out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, mainly over fears that its agricultural sector would be swamped with imports. (Illustration by Hiroko Oshima)
Asia Insight

Japan and Australia wary of China as RCEP talks enter last stretch

Economic fallout from COVID-19 gives impetus to negotiations on trade megadeal

29 September 2020
Construction site of Regional Rapid Transit System in Ghaziabad, pictured on Sep. 9: infrastructure projects take years to break even and need long term financing.
Opinion

India is running out of money, Mr. Modi. Embrace foreign debt.

Delhi should take advantage of historically low interest rates and low external debt

28 September 2020
Supporters of India's main opposition party protest farm bills passed by India's parliament, in Kolkata on Sept. 21.
Politics

India braces for mass protests over contentious farm bills

Farmers take to streets fearing reforms will swipe floor from under prices

24 September 2020
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks during Independence Day celebrations in Delhi on Aug. 15: A shortfall in the Goods and Services Tax has left states starved of cash.
Economy

India's tax reforms falter, hurting Modi's economic legacy

Pandemic starves Delhi of GST cash, leaving states with big budget hole

22 September 2020
Demonstrators hold placards during a protest demanding jobs on the occasion of Modi's 70th birth anniversary in New Delhi on Sep. 17: young people are finally speaking up.
Opinion

What the death of a Bollywood star says about life in Modi's India

New forms of dissent are emerging to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party

21 September 2020
A ban on the slaughter of cattle will end up increasing Sri Lanka's cattle population and send herds roaming across many parts of the country, the vice president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka says.
Politics

Sri Lanka cattle-slaughter ban mimics India's slight of Muslims

China-leaning Mahinda Rajapaksa seeks political gains with Modi-style policy

19 September 2020
People wearing face masks stand in line to enter a metro station amid the coronavirus pandemic in New Delhi on Sept. 14.
Coronavirus

India's COVID cases top 5 million as it narrows gap with US

Asia's third-largest economy slowly reopens but struggles to impose safety rules

16 September 2020
Cranes are seen at Tanjung Priok port amid the coronavirus outbreak in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 3.
Economy

Emerging Asia set for 1st recession in six decades, says ADB

Nobel laureate Stiglitz signals the end of region's labor intensive growth model

15 September 2020
The Maldives has borrowed heavily from China for infrastructure projects, including a bridge connecting the capital Male to the country's international airport on another island.  (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
Belt and Road

China debt trap fear haunts Maldives government

Beijing reminds Male of sovereign guarantee on a private resort deal

15 September 2020
Modi would have to undertake major regulatory reform as well the coterie of business cronies he has proved so willing to protect. (Handout photo from India's Press Information Bureau)
Opinion

Modi's supply chain fantasies will not save India's failing economy

Delhi ill-prepared for Japan's Supply Chain Resilience Initiative to rival China

15 September 2020