Laos

Exiled Cambodian opposition politician Sam Rainsy prays in September with Cambodian Buddhist monks in San Jose, California. (Photo provided by Sam Rainsy)
Interview

Cambodian opposition icon vows return and million-strong welcome

Sam Rainsy pledges to lead 'people power' movement against Hun Sen

14 October 2019
Cambodian authorities in June ordered the destruction of Bun Kim Long's 80 pigs. Like many smallholder pig raisers across Asia, her business is in tatters. (photo by Shaun Turton)
Agriculture

African swine fever wipes out Asia's backyard pig farmers

Outbreak forcing a shift to commercial operations with biosecurity resources

11 October 2019
Viettel prepares to launch commercial 5G service in Ho Chi Minh City. It will begin a trial service in Laos soon, with an eye on offering full service in four Southeast Asian nations that have been slow to adopt 5G. (Photo courtesy of Viettel)
5G networks

Vietnam carrier tests budget 5G in 4 SE Asia countries

Viettel yet to say whether it will use Huawei gear in foreign markets

11 October 2019
Then-British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visits Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon in January 2017.
Tea Leaves

Misunderstood and misquoted, Kipling bridges East-West divide

Early 'poet of empire' should not be used to justify fear of dialogue and negotiation

9 October 2019
Officials from Cambodia's Labor Ministry are mediating a wage dispute between NagaCorp and its workers union. (Photo by Masayori Ishikawa)
Media & Entertainment

Casino operator NagaCorp faces wage dispute amid profit windfall

Hong Kong-based operator planning $3.5bn expansion as union calls for 'living wages'

8 October 2019
The construction site of the railway arch bridge with world's longest span of 490 meters across the Nujiang River in China, which is a key section of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor: the NLD government has paved the way for the project.
Opinion

China walks political tightrope in Myanmar

Beijing should leverage its influence with military

8 October 2019
Soldiers walk over Gote Twin bridge damaged by explosion in northern Shan State, Myanmar on Aug. 15. Members of an ethnic rebel alliance in Myanmar staged coordinated attacks in five locations in Mandalay Region and in northern Shan State, where 14 people were reported killed.
Belt and Road

Renewed conflict in Myanmar slows China's Belt and Road projects

Ethnic strife and national pride halt Beijing-championed infrastructure projects

6 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
When the Somdet Theater opened in 1981 it had to be powered by a gas generator because that area of northeastern Thailand had yet to be linked to the electricity grid. (Courtesy of Philip Jablon)
Life

Southeast Asia's independent movie theaters show face of bygone era

'Cinema detective' documents scores of closures -- and a few survivors

4 October 2019
Three major Thai food companies are doing what they can to protect their pigs from contracting African Swine Fever.  
Business trends

Thai food companies fund police on national border to stop swine fever

Desperate move by CP, Betagro, Thai Food will set up checkpoints to protect $3.3bn industry

3 October 2019
15,000 military personnel will march in Tiananmen Square on Tuesday, as China celebrates its 70th National Day. 
This Week in Asia

Japan sales tax hike, China 70th anniversary, Budweiser stock debut

Nikkei Asian Preview is your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

29 September 2019
Thailand expects to take possession of 140 Stryker armored vehicles from the U.S., which is to hand over more than 50 of the personnel carriers for free.
International relations

Thailand-US defense ties heal as China makes gains in Cambodia

Delivery of armored vehicles comes as Washington frets over Beijing's dominance

18 September 2019
Paing Soe San, 24, models a Burmese traditional male longyi. He says he is proud to identify as a trans man. (Courtesy of VK Photography Burma)
Life

Myanmar's 'tomboys' stride out of the shadows

In a once-closed society, pioneers embrace their gender identities

18 September 2019
A solar power station in Sihong county, Jiangsu province: China was the first country to pass 100 gigawatts of installed solar power capacity
Opinion

ASEAN can replicate China's successful solar industry revolution

It requires careful national planning and listening to business

17 September 2019
Opening ceremony of the Yangon Stock Exchange center in December 2015: among the bourse's five listees are banks, investment companies and a real estate developer.
Opinion

Asian stock exchanges are getting ahead of themselves

China, Hong Kong and Myanmar's bourses have all made hasty moves recently

16 September 2019
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in April. China supported the Southeast Asian country when it was isolated and continues to build influence.
Comment

China's gains in Myanmar divert US attention from human rights

Security takes priority over Rohingya as Beijing builds strategic clout

14 September 2019
A boom in online gambling has coincided with an explosion in Chinese investment in hotels and casinos, particularly in the coastal city of Sihanoukville, where authorities have granted more than 160 casino licenses.
Media & Entertainment

Cambodia considers reversing online gaming ban, irking China

With so much money at stake, investors say restriction was only temporary

13 September 2019
Myanmar's Securities and Exchange Commission would allow foreign investors to hold up to 35% of each company listed on the YSX. (Photo by Ryushiro Kodaira)
Markets

Myanmar stocks surge on hope of foreign funding

Key index up 10% in August after decision to open doors to overseas investors

12 September 2019
The deal with SunTech Medical Group will give Icon its first presence in Hong Kong.
Business deals

Australian cancer care company Icon to buy Hong Kong practice

Goldman Sachs and Queensland government fund back Asian aggressive growth push

11 September 2019
Nam Ngiep 1, on the Nam Ngiep River in Laos, rivals Japan's largest dam in size while containing 11 times as much water.
Energy

Japan's Kansai Electric brings huge Laotian dam online

'Second Kurobe Dam' rivals Japan's largest in size and beats it in performance

7 September 2019
Smart Axiata launches 5G technology in Phnom Penh in July.
5G networks

Cambodia 5G set to leapfrog ASEAN rivals with Huawei and ZTE

Smart Axiata and Cellcard pick Chinese technology to launch services by year end

5 September 2019
Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh: more than 700,000 members of the ethnic Rohingya live in sordid makeshift refugee camps. 
Opinion

Rohingya refugees should press Myanmar for their own state

Self-government in Rakhine could persuade them back from Bangladesh

4 September 2019
A Uniqlo store in Tokyo: The chain earns 5% of its sales in North America. (Photo courtesy of Fast Retailing)
Trade war

Newest US tariffs on China drive Japan Inc. toward Southeast Asia

Uniqlo, Seiko and more weigh production shifts amid growing trade war

2 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
Philippine central bank governor Benjamin Diokno told reporters Wednesday that officials are bracing for the possible end of online gaming. (Photo by Manda Yeung)
29 August 2019