Politics

NASA rendering of an ascent vehicle of the Artemis program blasting off from the surface of the moon.
International relations

Australia joins US in battle with China for space supremacy

New agency tasked with diversifying economy while bolstering military ties

18 October 2019
Stream article image
International relations

China's new ties with Solomon Islands flash on US radar

Strategists fear Beijing's extended power projection in South Pacific

11 October 2019
Donald Trump, left, Shinzo Abe, center, and Narendra Modi hold a meeting on June 28: the Quad's main strategic use is for signaling purposes.
Opinion

India grows keener on the Quad as relationship with China worsens

Four-sided alliance with US, Australia and Japan offers needed friends

10 October 2019
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare walk past the Chinese honor guard in Beijing on Oct. 9.
International relations

Beijing embraces Solomon Islands after switch from Taipei

Xi calls Pacific nation an extension of 'Maritime Silk Road'

10 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
The U.S. military conducted on Aug. 18 a flight test of a type of missile banned for more than 30 years by a treaty that both the United States and Russia abandoned in that month.
Opinion

China will use economic pain to hinder US's Pacific missile deployment

Beijing's leverage looms over American allies like Philippines and South Korea

4 October 2019
Military vehicles carrying YJ anti-ship missiles march during the military parade in September 2015: China's new weapons will make the South China Sea a deadly environment.
Opinion

China's military buildup is worry for neighbors and warning for US

Hypersonic missiles and stealthy jets bolster Beijing's might

1 October 2019
Lockheed-Martin says more than 50 Australian companies are involved in the entire F-35 program.
Politics

Australia turns to military spending for jobs and growth

$135bn spree has analysts wondering if 'defense dividend' will materialize

30 September 2019
With the loss of the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, Taiwan now retains diplomatic ties with only 15 countries.
Comment

South Pacific pivot to Beijing recasts regional chessboard

Diplomatic switches to China mirror Japan's WWII strategic dominance over region

22 September 2019
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to Nikkei in Tokyo on Thursday. (Photo by Kai Fujii)
Interview

New Zealand's 5G plan 'not a political decision'

PM Jacinda Ardern says Huawei approval will rest with intelligence agency

19 September 2019
Blaming the Tsai administration would be invidious.
Opinion

Loss of Solomon Islands is no significant blow to Taiwan

China's Pacific strategy may backfire by bolstering support for President Tsai

18 September 2019
The Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing on Monday.
International relations

China scores big win with Solomons switch from Taiwan

The move is a 'huge blow to Washington and Canberra'

17 September 2019
Taiwan's foreign minister, Joseph Wu, told reporters in Taipei late on Monday that it would immediately close down its embassy in the Solomon Islands and recall all of its diplomats.(Photo by Kensaku Ihara)
International relations

Beijing 'bought off' Solomon Islands, Taiwan minister says

Pacific island nation breaks ties with Taipei and recognizes Beijing

17 September 2019
Flags from the 2015 Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (Photo by Keiichiro Asahara) 
The Nikkei View

China's Pacific island advances are not just Taiwan's problem

More effort on climate action can help Japan, US and Australia win region's trust

11 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
Rising sea levels pose an existential threat to Pacific island nations, like Fiji. 
Environment

Rising seas and anger: Pacific islands slam pro-coal Australia

Leaders embrace China instead as friendly infrastructure builder

29 August 2019
The Mekong River in Laos: drought is a reflection of the broader inability of the Mekong countries to agree on a regional plan for managing their water resources.
Opinion

Mekong nears tipping point as US-China rivalry grows

Difficult choices ahead as drought takes hold in downstream countries

27 August 2019
Australia enjoys a large quota of beef exports to Japan before safeguard tariffs kick in, and it wants to preserve that even after Washington inks a trade deal with Tokyo.
International relations

Australia tells Japan, 'No renegotiation of TPP beef rules'

Tokyo worries that flood of imports will harm its producers once it has a deal with the U.S.

27 August 2019
Illustration by Eric Chow
Asia Insight

China seeks to flip nations in Pacific Great Game with US

Taiwan ties and geography give small islands big significance

20 August 2019
Many Japanese companies count on exports for growth as their home market stagnates.
Business trends

Japan leaves billions on table as paperwork clogs free trade deals

Only half of eligible companies enjoying fruits of 17 trade agreements

17 August 2019
The EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, right, is greeted by Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on Aug, 5. (Photo from Vietnam government's press release)
Opinion

EU should expand maritime activity in Southeast Asia as China looms

New defense pact with Vietnam foreshadows bigger role in global security

9 August 2019
New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson said his country needs to diversify its trading partners. (Photo by Fumi Matsumoto)
Interview

New Zealand looks beyond China to survive trade war: minister

Wellington 'not immune' to conflict as it braces for slow growth

7 August 2019
Gambling junkets from China to Crown Resorts casinos have drawn media and law enforcement scrutiny in Australia.
International relations

Xi cousin embroiled in Australian casino money laundering probe

Ming Chai frequented resorts that arranged fast-tracked visas for high rollers

2 August 2019
American pork exports to Japan are down as Tokyo slashes tariffs of imports from other countries. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
International relations

US loses out as Japan cuts meat and wine duties for others

TPP members and EU reap benefits of rising consumer demand

31 July 2019
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, poses with the leaders of Pacific island countries in a photo session during their meeting in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, in May 2018.
International relations

Japan, US and Australia push back on China's South Pacific expansion

Tokyo advocates 'free and open Indo-Pacific' and promises economic aid

3 July 2019