China

Japanese people are not using generative AI as much as those in other countries, according to government data. (Photo by Nikkei)
6 July 2024
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spoke with Nikkei in Austin. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanafusa)
Semiconductors

Texas governor pursues Japan, Taiwan, South Korea chip investments

Armed with $1.4bn fund, Abbott embarks on economic mission to lure businesses

6 July 2024
Shanghai's Lujiazui business district symbolizes both China's rapid economic rise and the challenges it faces. 
Tea Leaves

Goodbye Shanghai: reflections on five years at China's gateway

Covering tech, pandemic and social issues in commercial hub yields insights into national trajectory

5 July 2024
Spanish economy minister Carlos Cuerpo tells Nikkei Asia on July 4 that his country will not engage in a 'trade war' with China. Cuerpo is in Tokyo to launch a Japan-Spain business forum. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Interview

EU must not be 'naive' in China EV talks, Spain economy minister says

Bloc should protect domestic industries and 'be a bit more self-centered'

5 July 2024
A cognac distillery in southwestern France. China's Commerce Ministry has set a hearing to discuss an ongoing investigation into claims that European brandy producers are selling into China at below market rates.
Trade war

China unveils next steps in EU brandy probe as EV tariffs take effect

Commerce Ministry sets hearing for July 18; Beijing threatens wide-ranging retaliation

5 July 2024
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks to reporters at a regular news conference on July 5. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
International relations

Japan says China set up buoy over its southern continental shelf

Beijing's latest move off island of Shikoku could further strain bilateral relations

5 July 2024
The defense and foreign ministers of the Philippines and Japan are holding a "two-plus-two" meeting in Manila on July 8. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Kyodo)
International relations

Philippines-Japan meeting to eye defense pact, may bud more 'coalitions'

Experts see multiple implications beyond potential reciprocal access agreement

5 July 2024
Uyghur women protest in front of policemen in Urumqi on July 7, 2009. The unrest, which started two days earlier, prompted a harsh crackdown and led to much stricter governance in the Xinjiang region.
Politics

15 years after Xinjiang unrest, China fends off criticism of hardline rule

Beijing cements support from like-minded states, cushioning West's condemnation

5 July 2024
The lack of discussion by Keir Starmer's Labour Party on China ought to be cause for concern, Luke de Pulford argues. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Opinion

U.K.'s Labour is likely to champion China trade over human rights

After landslide, Starmer will face little opposition in his dealings with Beijing

5 July 2024
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization -- including China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin and the Kazakh host Kassym-Jomart Tokayev -- pose for a group photo in Astana on July 4.
International relations

China and Russia's security bloc tightens bonds as it expands

Belarus the latest to join SCO as group aims to counterbalance the West

5 July 2024
Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's Labour party, addresses his supporters at a reception to celebrate his win in the election, at Tate Modern, in London, Britain, July 5, 2024
Politics

U.K.'s new Labour government is set to re-engage with EU and China

Keir Starmer's party will eye an India free trade pact as a quick win

5 July 2024
The Paris La Defense Arena, pictured on June 12, will host the swimming and some water polo events during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Sports

Chinese swimmers face U.S. doping probe, world federation confirms

Top administrator ordered to testify in criminal investigation just before Olympics

5 July 2024
Pursuit of the "dual circulation" strategy means China relies as little as possible on foreign resources and technology.
Opinion

The future for foreign companies in China looks increasingly finite

Capricious rules and stiffer competition are making life difficult

5 July 2024
Japanese pharmaceutical companies typically use imported active ingredients to produce finished antibiotics.
Supply Chain

Japan to subsidize antibiotics supply chain to reduce China exposure

Production of active ingredients has moved abroad for cost reasons

5 July 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron this May in Paris, where Xi called for a multipolar world not dominated by the U.S.
International relations

China focuses on Europe, Southeast Asia with top-level visits

Two regions key to Beijing's diplomatic agenda against pressure from the U.S.

5 July 2024
A BYD car imported to Germany. The Chinese electric vehicle maker faces the lowest additional import duties of 17.4%, because it cooperated with Europe's investigation.
Trade war

EU presses ahead with Chinese EV tariffs as talks continue

Divided Europe still needs unity in approach while China's carmakers ponder moves

4 July 2024
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Astana on July 4. (Jaishankar's official X account)
International relations

India and China discuss border standoff dragging on since 2020

Jaishankar, Wang meet in first high-level contact between two sides in Modi's third term

4 July 2024
A Chinese Coast Guard member wields an axe as he and other forces approach Philippine Navy service members on a resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal on June 17.
South China Sea

Philippines demands China pay $1m over South China Sea clash in June

Head of armed forces says Manila-Tokyo troop access deal is close to being signed

4 July 2024
China's government has set a GDP growth target of "around 5% for this year.
Economy

China economists forecast GDP growth slowdown to 5.1% in Q2

Official annual target of 'around 5%' in sight, but pressure for support grows

4 July 2024
Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 4. (Photo by Tomoko Wakasugi)
China tech

China showcases AI prowess at Shanghai forum

Premier Li calls for ensuring tech is 'safe, reliable and controllable'

4 July 2024
The Taiwan Stock Exchange partnered with the Singapore Exchange for the first time to host a pitch event for institutional investors in the city-state, held at SGX in April. (Singapore Exchange and Taiwan Stock Exchange)
Taiwan tensions

Singapore hooks Taiwan companies shunning China's investors

Taiwanese firms chase funds in city-state as cross-strait tensions rise

4 July 2024
PwC is in the regulatory spotlight for its role in auditing China Evergrande Group, a developer at the center of the country's property crisis.
Companies

PwC names new China head amid Evergrande audit scrutiny

In-house executive Daniel Li takes over as firm faces mainland and Hong Kong probes

4 July 2024
Milwaukee Tool work gloves were made with forced Chinese prison labor, a lawsuit alleges. (Milwaukee Tool)
Supply Chain

Milwaukee Tool sued for alleged Chinese forced labor

Former Chinese prisoner says he was forced to make gloves in brutal conditions

4 July 2024
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inspects the honor guard at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad on March 4. Pakistan has entered the category of being a middle power.
Opinion

Middle powers are the new architects of the world order

How emerging nations are bridging the deepening rifts between major powers

4 July 2024
Left to right: Tianjin Tower pays tribute to Hu Youping on June 28. A bouquet is offered for Hu Youping near a bus stop believed to be the site where Hu was attacked by a knife wielder going after a Japanese mother and child on June 30. (Source photos by Kyodo and AP)
China up close

Analysis: Tragedy shows China's anti-Japan social media fire burns out of control

Other stabbings reflect a society that cannot vent its social and economic frustrations

4 July 2024