China

Hesai Technology is a top producer of lidar devices used in autonomous vehicles. (Photo by Wataru Suzuki)
Interview

China's Hesai CEO calls U.S. accusation of military ties 'ridiculous'

Auto lidar maker says Trump sounds 'crazy' but would bring 'business rationale'

29 July 2024
Owners of the Chinese electric cars are complaining that new discounts from the company hurt the cars' resale value. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Electric vehicles

EV price war angers Thai BYD owners as buyers wait for more cuts

New incentives for hybrids come as weak demand hits banks and factories

29 July 2024
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, left, shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on July 28 ahead of a forum with Italian and Chinese business leaders.(Italian Premier Press Office Via AP)
International relations

Italy's Meloni vows to 'relaunch' cooperation with China

Rome seeks to mend ties with Beijing after Belt and Road exit

29 July 2024
The SU7, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi Corp.'s debut new energy vehicle, retails for 215,900 yuan ($29,735). However, getting it insured costs around the same as for a combustion-engine vehicle more than twice its price.
Caixin

Electric cars are draining the batteries of China's insurers

Owners of new energy vehicles are twice as likely to file a claim

28 July 2024
China's Marvel Garment, the largest tenant in the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone, employs about 17,000 workers. (Phnom Penh SEZ)
Business trends

Cambodian industrial park seeks to draw tenants from Thailand, Vietnam

Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone diversifying its investors as supply chains move

28 July 2024
China's recent gold boom is highlighted by the popularity of 1-gram gold beans. (Photo by Tomoya Takayama)
Commodities

China's Gen Z gold buyers treat themselves to little bits of bling

Younger generation helps drive rise in Chinese buying of precious metal

28 July 2024
An aerial view of Southwest Cay, also known as Pugad Island, which is controlled by Vietnam and part of the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea.
Opinion

Vietnam's land reclamation helps balance power in South China Sea

Hanoi's strategic moves offer hope against China's aggressive island building

28 July 2024
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, with Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Vientiane on July 27.
International relations

Blinken chides Beijing's 'escalating actions' in South China Sea

Russia's Lavrov says U.S. 'enflaming atmosphere' on Korean peninsula at summit

28 July 2024
Foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries pose for a photo on the day of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane on July 25.
International relations

ASEAN ministers at loggerheads over Israel-Hamas conflict

Malaysia pushes line condemning violence, as Singapore, Thailand cause 'some discord'

27 July 2024
According to a China-based research specialist Hurun Research Institute, Kweichow Moutai ranked as China's most valuable brand for six straight years through 2023. (Photo by Kohei Fujimura)
Food & Beverage

Chinese premium baijiu liquor faces fall in resale demand

Kweichow Moutai, whose market cap once topped Toyota's, loses top spot in China

27 July 2024
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, meets with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo during the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with China at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane on July 26.
South China Sea

Philippine, Chinese top diplomats agree to ease South China Sea tensions

Foreign ministers hold 1st meeting in 2 years as Manila conducts resupply mission

27 July 2024
A car seat assembly line at a factory in Shanghai. China posted a 3.6% year-on-year rise in industrial profits for June.
Economy

China's industrial profits rise faster despite faltering economy

Data shows 3.6% jump for June after 0.7% uptick in May

27 July 2024
Battery manufacturer CATL shows off its technology at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, also known as Auto China 2024, in April.
Electric vehicles

CATL state subsidies jump by 35% amid EU squeeze on China EVs

Rise in aid outpaces net profit growth; company sues domestic rival for IP infringement

27 July 2024
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is transforming this training facility in Guangzhou's Conghua District into a full-fledged racecourse. (Hong Kong Jockey Club photo)
Travel & Leisure

Hong Kong Jockey Club eyes mainland opportunities despite betting ban

Club plans regular Guangzhou races from 2026, may seek to take bets in home city

27 July 2024
U.S. soldiers participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 at Bellows Air Force Station in Hawaii on July 9. (Photo from U.S. Army Pacific Facebook)
Defense

Palau-based radar delayed despite U.S. focus on 2nd island chain

Air Force says construction issues slow project amid funding review

26 July 2024
A Chinese bullet train maintenance station in Xi'an. State-owned enterprises will invest 3 trillion yuan ($413.8 billion) on equipment upgrades over the next five years.
Economy

Chinese state enterprises to pour $414bn into equipment upgrades

Beijing backs investment and consumer trade-ins after plenum; appliance shares jump

26 July 2024
Apple is under pressure from local smartphone manufacturers in China, a market that accounts for 18% of the iPhone maker's revenue.
Electronics

Apple falls out of top 5 in China smartphone market in Q2

Vivo takes top spot while Huawei shipments surge despite U.S. sanctions

26 July 2024
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the ASEAN post ministerial conference with China at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Vientiane on July, 26.
South China Sea

China says Philippine allies meddling in South China Sea dispute

Foreign minister Wang slams U.S, Japan, South Korea, EU at ASEAN-China meeting

26 July 2024
Electricity theft and distribution problems caused by line losses have left Pakistan's government short of revenue.
International relations

Pakistan under pressure to renegotiate hefty Chinese power deals

Beijing unlikely to concede to Islamabad's request, experts say

26 July 2024
Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping is greeted by workers at Nippon Steel's mill in Kimitsu, Japan, on Oct. 26, 1978.
International relations

Nippon Steel-Baosteel split closes book on Deng Xiaoping's Japan legacy

Industrial power balance shifts while Beijing increasingly emphasizes security

26 July 2024
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Taiwan pay the U.S. for its defense. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Taiwan Military News Agency/Taiwan's Defense Ministry/AP)
Comment

Would Trump defend Taiwan?

Former U.S. president may see issue simply as leverage in China talks

26 July 2024
Olympus is promoting endoscope use in developing markets, including China. (Photo by Aya Onishi)
Health Care

Olympus faces challenge in China's endoscope market from local companies

CEO sees hurdles to overcome, but large untapped health care market open to innovation

26 July 2024
Gold has traditionally been seen as a safe haven in times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Commodities

China's central bank has been a big buyer of gold. Will it continue?

PBOC accounted for 5% of global demand for precious metal in 2023

26 July 2024
A woman holds up a newspaper with the late Vietnamese Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong on its cover during his state funeral on July 25 in Hanoi. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
International relations

Vietnam's funeral for party chief Trong draws former Japanese PM, China's No. 4

Dignitaries pay respects in a testament to Trong's focus on balanced diplomacy

26 July 2024
Two Russian Tu-95 and two Chinese H-6 military aircraft were detected operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. (NORAD)
Indo-Pacific

China, Russia bombers fly off Alaska, trigger first U.S. intercept

Two partners expand joint activity from Asia to East Pacific

26 July 2024