Politics

China continues to import oil from Iran despite the expiry of U.S. waivers that allowed it do so without threat of penalty by Washington.
27 June 2019
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sits for a June 26 interview with Nikkei, flanked by a portrait of national founding father Kemal Ataturk. (Photo by Cevahir Bugu)
Interview

Q&A with President Erdogan: Trump weighing July visit to Turkey

Ankara seeks to broaden Japanese investment beyond nuclear power

27 June 2019
"It is out of the question" for Turkey to compromise on an F-35 order that the U.S. has threatened to cancel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Nikkei in a June 26 interview in Ankara. (Photo by Cevahir Bugu)
Interview

Erdogan calls election defeat a victory for Turkey's democracy

President says Trump administration's threat to cancel F-35 is unacceptable

27 June 2019
The Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned oil tanker Kokuka Courageous, which was damaged by a limpet mine, anchored off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on June 19.
International relations

Trump tells China and Japan to defend own ships in Strait of Hormuz

Iran diplomat accuses 'B Team,' including Bolton and Netanyahu, of warmongering

25 June 2019
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, while in Japan later in June, may announce an agreement in principle on an economic partnership agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
G-20 summit Osaka

Turkey seeks Asian investment as Western ties fray

President Erdogan prepares for G-20 summit in Osaka and China visit

23 June 2019
An oil tanker is on fire in the sea of Oman on June 13: Asian governments must quickly assess the threat and respond.
Opinion

Asia has most to lose if Middle East turmoil hits oil supplies

As US-Iran tensions, can crude importers defend their interests?

21 June 2019
An Iranian navy boat tries to stop the fire of an oil tanker after it was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, on June 13.
Transportation

Tanker insurance rates jump 10-fold following attacks

Extra charges imposed on ships passing through Strait of Hormuz

21 June 2019
A satellite image of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime choke point with Iran situated at the top with Qeshm Island and the United Arab Emirates to the South.
Commodities

Tanker attack rings alarm bells for oil-reliant Japan

'Iran did it' Trump says, pointing to a video of a boat at the blast site

15 June 2019
An oil tanker is seen after it was attacked in the Gulf of Oman on June 13.
Economy

Tanker attacks show Asia's vulnerability as 'world's workshop'

World faces possibility of third oil shock, leaving region facing new risks

14 June 2019
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks from the State Department briefing room on June 13. Pompeo said Iran was responsible for the attacks in the Gulf of Oman and called it an "unacceptable escalation" of tensions.
Politics

US blames Iran for tanker attacks in vital sea lane

Assault near Strait of Hormuz occurs as Abe visits Tehran

14 June 2019
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tehran on June 13.
International relations

Abe plays peacemaker but Iran leader offers no message for Trump

Japanese prime minister makes the trip at request of Washington and Tehran

14 June 2019
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tehran on June 12. The two leaders discussed the 2015 nuclear deal, among other topics.
International relations

Abe urges Iran to play 'constructive role' to prevent clash with US

During historic trip, prime minister leverages unique position to ease tensions

13 June 2019
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the death of late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, shown in the poster at rear, in Tehran on June 4.
International relations

Japanese leader to meet Iran's Khamenei in first trip since 1978

Abe takes up mediator role as tension mounts between Washington and Tehran

12 June 2019
U.S. pressure has restricted economic ties between China and Iran, but it may also create new incentives for common opposition against American unilateralism. (Nikkei Montage/ AP / Getty Images )
International relations

Trump's attacks on Iran complicate trade war with China

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have little upside for Beijing

10 June 2019
The Kharg Island Oil Terminal: Iranian exports are expected to remain locked out of the market for the foreseeable future.
Opinion

Asian crude importers can join hands over Iran sanctions

Opportunity for India and China to launch oil buyers' club after Trump's waiver ban

17 May 2019
Fuel pumps at a gas station in Mumbai. More than 10% of India's crude oil imports come from Iran.
International relations

India and Turkey signal uncertainty over Iran oil ban

Importers question whether to follow US sanctions as waivers run out

4 May 2019
Iranian oil exports to four Asian countries including China jumped 36% in March.
Commodities

Asian imports of Iranian oil balloon ahead of full US ban

Beijing expected to battle Washington over Iran sanctions as waivers end

2 May 2019
China takes in about 400,000 barrels of Iranian oil a day, while India imports 300,000 barrels a day, 
International relations

Trump cancels Iran oil waivers granted to major Asia importers

China, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan affected, but White House promises supply

23 April 2019
Ethnic Uighur protesters hold East Turkestan and Turkish flags at a demonstration against China in Istanbul last month. Turkey’s government is seeking to integrate its strategically important position between Asia and Europe into China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.
Belt and Road

China ramps up pressure on Turkey over Uighur policy

Ankara balances economic interests against cultural ties with Muslim minority

26 March 2019
The Iconsiam shopping mall in Bangkok. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Companies

Thai malls bet $5bn on post-election tourism boom

Siam Piwat and The Mall Group bet they can convert new visitors into big spenders

22 March 2019
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem on March 21.
Politics

US warns Israel its China deals are risk to intelligence sharing

Pompeo tells key ally that Huawei presents 'real risk'

22 March 2019
Naresh Goyal, chairman of Jet Airways, at a news conference in Mumbai in November 2017
Business deals

Jet Airways lenders seek crisis funding as Etihad bargains hard

State Bank of India chief says resolution plan for airline almost ready

20 March 2019
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, left, and China's Premier Li Keqiang depart after a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 3, 2018. 
Most read in 2019

Pakistan distances itself from China's Belt and Road

Islamabad diverts $171m from CPEC to fund projects legislators want

20 March 2019
Fruit is one of Turkey's chief exports to Japan, but Ankara faces tougher competition after Tokyo's tariff-reducing trade deal with the European Union.
International relations

Japan eyes June trade deal with Turkey

Tokyo's EU pact pushes Ankara to seek level playing field with Europe

5 March 2019
Novatek's first Arctic liquefied natural gas plant, on Russia's Yamal Peninsula, began operating in 2017. The company is seeking Japanese support for the second.
International relations

Russia's Arctic LNG project aims to tempt fuel-hungry Japan

US shale revolution spurs Moscow to look east for new markets

4 March 2019