Politics

Leaders and trade ministers from the 15 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries pose for a virtual group photo during the signing ceremony hosted by Vietnam on Nov. 15.
Trade

Asia forms world's largest trading bloc RCEP after years of talks

After signing, focus turns to ratification; China to hold sway in India's absence

16 November 2020
Containers are piled up at a port in Yokohama, Japan. For Japan, almost 90% of auto parts shipped to China will become tariff-free under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
International relations

RCEP to remove tariffs on 86% of Japan's exports to China

Tokyo scores major win with Beijing and Seoul's participation in free trade pact

15 November 2020
Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty stipulates that the U.S. is obliged to defend Japan should its territories come under attack.
Indo-Pacific

Biden affirms security treaty applies to Senkaku Islands in Suga call

China calls US-Japan arrangement a 'product of the Cold War'

13 November 2020
Analysts expect more strategic and measured thinking and actions by the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden than incumbent Donald Trump (Source photos by Reuters) 
US elections 2020

Three ways Biden will immediately shift US policy on Asia

Strategy to replace brinkmanship on security; roadblocks on return to TPP

12 November 2020
A container ship is seen at a port in Shenzhen: RCEP will be the first trade agreement to include East Asia's three biggest economies.
Trade

RCEP nations to sign Asian trade megadeal, with clause for India

China, Japan and dozen other countries reach long-sought pact after 'blood, sweat and tears'

12 November 2020
India indicated its unwillingness to join RCEP during the summit in November last year in Bangkok. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
International relations

RCEP summit on Nov. 15 to discuss trade deal by year-end, without India

Leaders from 15 countries aim to finalize Asia's biggest free trade agreement

7 November 2020
Singapore is handing out these TraceTogether "tokens" -- electronic trackers intended to help stop coronavirus clusters before they start.
Coronavirus

How Singapore fights COVID with contact tracing: 5 things to know

After dorm crisis, city-state is again a success story, but can others copy it?

3 November 2020
Thousands rally to mark the eighth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Oct. 12.
US elections 2020

Brinkmanship or talks? North Korea's next move hinges on US vote

Either Trump or Biden victory will have consequences for Seoul and Pyongyang

2 November 2020
Lee Kun-hee, the deceased former chairman of Samsung Electronics, center, walks with his family members.
Electronics

Samsung Lee's death marks the end of an era in South Korea

Warm ties between government and business fueled growth, but no more

31 October 2020
A Republic of Korea air force F-15 trains with American fighters during a 10-hour mission from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, into Japanese airspace and over the Korean Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense)
International relations

Biden reassures South Korea on US troop presence

Democratic candidate blasts Trump for 'extorting Seoul' with threat of drawdown

31 October 2020
Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak appears for his trial in a court in Seoul during 2018. He has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Politics

South Korea locks up another ex-president in cycle of revenge

17-year sentence upheld for Lee Myung-bak, fourth convicted former leader

30 October 2020
Japan and South Korea recently reopened business travel between the two countries despite ongoing tensions.
Japan-South Korea rift

Tokyo, Seoul resume in-person talks, both asking other side to act

First meeting in eight months covers wartime labor and export restrictions

30 October 2020
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Switzerland in January. (Photo courtesy of the World Economic Forum)
Trade

US blocks African candidate for WTO chief with eye on China

American support for South Korean minister poses headache for Japan

29 October 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday. 
Climate Change

South Korea joins Japan in making 2050 carbon-neutral pledge

Moon announces commitment for net-zero emissions by mid-century

29 October 2020
SK Hynix's purchase of Intel’s NAND flash memory business may be the first step in a further consolidation of the industry.
Business deals

SK-Intel NAND deal points to wider shake-up of chip sector

Korean to pursue further acquisitions; US players outsource manufacturing

23 October 2020
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, center left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc feed the fish by a pond at the presidential palace compound in Hanoi on Oct. 19.
Business trends

Japan's investment in Vietnam plummets while Suga seeks closer ties

South Korea and China fill gap left by 40% drop this year

22 October 2020
Lee Nak-yon, head of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks at the Foreign Correspondents' Club Wednesday in Seoul. (Photo by Yosuke Onchi)
International relations

Moon's likely successor seeks better Japan ties before Olympics

Ruling party chief Lee calls for finding common ground in wartime labor feud

22 October 2020
The Asia-Pacific is wondering what a victory by Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden in the U.S. election on Nov. 3 would mean for American policy in the region after four years of President Donald Trump.
Asia Insight

What would a Biden presidency mean for Asia?

From tech and trade to Taiwan and North Korea, Trump's legacy will weigh heavily

20 October 2020
Students clash with riot police at Yonsei University in Seoul on July 6, 1987, as they protest the death of a student who died of head injuries 27 days after being hit by a tear gas canister during anti-government demonstrations.
Politics

Moon under fire over plan to give benefits to democracy activists

Many members of ruling party have ties to South Korea's 1960s-80s protests

16 October 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during the first meeting on the K-New Deal strategy at the presidential office in Seoul on Sept. 3.
Economy

South Korea's Moon stakes legacy on $138bn K-New Deal

Investors skeptical about plan to boost digital and green sectors

14 October 2020
Is the COVID-19 pandemic likely to alter the direction of the world and humanity?
Opinion

Which nations will emerge the strongest from COVID-19?

Liberal democracies must rise to protect the multilateral rules-based order

10 October 2020
South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee is one of two women vying for the top job at the World Trade Organization.
Trade

South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee named in final two for top WTO job

Trade minister competes against Nigerian for job of mediating between US and China

8 October 2020
Samsung is set for another strong quarterly performance, this time thanks to a rush of orders from China's Huawei Technologies. 
Companies

Samsung's profit jumps 58% in 3Q as Huawei ramps up chip orders

Rival LG gets a boost from record-high TV demand amid pandemic

8 October 2020
Japanese and South Koreans on business will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days when travel between the two countries resumes.
International relations

Japan and South Korea to open borders for business from Thursday

Negative COVID test needed to travel, in move seen to improve ties

6 October 2020
The international terminal at Tokyo's Haneda Airport: Japan looks to boost coronavirus testing capacity to handle an expected rise in foreign visitors. (Photo by Akiyoshi Inoue)
International relations

Japan and South Korea near deal to resume business travel

Short- and long-term visits expected to restart as early as October

5 October 2020