Politics

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's new president, addresses the nation, at his swearing-in ceremony in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, on Monday.
Politics

Sri Lanka's new 'Terminator' president polarizes nation

Gotabaya Rajapaksa win heralds shift toward strongman rule and closer China ties

18 November 2019
Special Task Force soldiers stand guard as supporters of Sri Lankan President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa celebrate in Colombo on Nov. 17.
Opinion

South Asia's turn to illiberal democracy

In Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa brothers' return confirms region's autocratic drift

18 November 2019
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a tough-talking former defense secretary, campaigned on promises to restore discipline and strengthen national security.
Politics

Military hawk Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins Sri Lanka election

Vote paves way for pro-China clan to return to power

17 November 2019
Sri Lanka's presidential candidates Sajith Premadasa, left, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa: This year's elections come at a pivotal time for the strategically located nation. (Source Photo by Nikkei/Reuters)
Politics

Five things to know about Sri Lanka's presidential election

Nation at a crossroads as pro-Beijing faction seeks a return to power

15 November 2019
Sri Lanka plans a $500 million samurai bond issue, hoping to shore up its depleted foreign reserves and keep its economy ticking over.
International relations

Debt-heavy Sri Lanka seeks Japan's help and prepares samurai bond

Slow growth an obstacle for economy as IMF bailout conditions dent consumption

13 November 2019
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, right in a red shirt, is seen as proxy of his brother Mahinda, left.
Opinion

Tilt toward China is at stake in Sri Lanka's presidential election

Candidates' foreign policy platforms have sharply different economic consequences

13 November 2019
Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka's presidential candidate of the New Democratic Front, an alliance led by the United National Party, thinks the country's youth hold the key to his election success. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Politics

Sri Lanka presidential candidate eyes youth to beat pro-China rival

Moderate Premadasa takes to social media as Nov. 16 election nears

10 November 2019
A railway worker in Karachi: China is becoming wary of pouring more money into projects in economically unstable Pakistan.
Belt and Road

China's mood chills on new Belt and Road projects in Pakistan

Cautious amid economic crisis, Beijing defers oil, gas and steel offers

10 November 2019
Pakistan has sold 16 JF-17 fighters, built with China's help, to Myanmar and three to Nigeria.
Politics

With China as its mentor, Pakistan triples arms exports

Islamabad pitches its weapons to budget-minded countries like Turkey and Myanmar

9 November 2019
A Sri Lankan muslim woman walks past a mosque in Colombo. Sri Lanka's madrassas have come under scrutiny after Sri Lankan nationals who claimed links to Islamic State carried out coordinated suicide bombings on Easter Sunday that killed more than 250 people.
Politics

Sri Lankan Muslims pressured to curb rise of extremism

Religious schools and communities relieved by IS leader's death

7 November 2019
An aircraft from India's Alliance Air touches down at Jaffna International Airport on Oct. 17. The flight was part of a ceremony inaugurating the country's third international airport. (Photo by Ishara S. Kodikara)
International relations

Sri Lanka plays its India hand with airport upgrade as poll nears

Pro-China opposition decries pork-barrel politics ahead of presidential election

6 November 2019
Nearly five years after a humiliating defeat, the Rajapaksa clan gears up for a return. 
The Big Story

Divide and conquer: Sri Lankan strongman plots an election return

Pro-China, populist Rajapaksa family looks to lead the debt-burdened nation

30 October 2019
"We want to be here ... for the long term," say the new Chinese-Sri Lankan joint-venture operators of Hambantota Port. (Photo courtesy of Hambantota International Port Group)
The Big Story

Sri Lanka's 'debt trap' port thriving, Chinese owners claim

Seen as an emblem of Beijing's expansionist goals, business is picking up in Hambantota

30 October 2019
Mahinda, left, and presidential candidate Gotabaya side by side at a campaign event: Although Gotabaya is the one running for office, his brother has been ever-present on the campaign trail.
30 October 2019
Bangladesh has shown interest in buying Apache attack helicopters, such as those shown here, and unspecified missile systems.
Politics

Bangladesh in talks with US to buy Apaches and missiles

Despite long China ties, Dhaka seeks Washington's help with military upgrade

29 October 2019
The talks between representatives of Taliban militants and a number of Afghan political factions in Beijing come as the U.S. has yet to resume peace talks with the Taliban. (Nikkei Montage)
Belt and Road

China to host Afghan rivals in drive to expand Belt and Road

Taliban included in peace talks as Beijing aims to isolate Xinjiang separatists

27 October 2019
India's main palm oil trade group has asked its members to refrain from importing Malaysian palm oil.
Kashmir turmoil

Indian anger at Malaysia's Kashmir stance threatens palm oil trade

Mahathir's 'unprovoked' and 'unacceptable' remarks prompt talk of boycott

26 October 2019
Pakistani President Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi speaks to the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Interview

Pakistan president sees Belt and Road as path to poverty relief

Alvi says economy is on mend as money laundering and corruption subside

23 October 2019
A recruiting event for foreign students in Japan: Companies are looking for international talent to offset a labor shortage. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Japan immigration

Record 25,900 foreign students landed jobs in Japan in 2018

Asian countries accounted for 95%, led by China, Vietnam and Nepal

23 October 2019
Xi and Modi raise hands together at Arjuna's Penance in Mamallapuram, India: the informal summit mechanism works best as it removes any compulsion for formalized joint declarations.
Opinion

Modi should not become complacent after successful summit with Xi

Kashmir and Pakistan are causing rift between India and China

21 October 2019
Women and children cross a bridge along the Karachi Circular Railway in poor neighborhood in Karachi: Problems obtaining loans for the railway from China has local leaders looking for help from Japan.
Belt and Road

Pakistan's stalled China-backed rail project prompts turn to Japan

Regional leaders show 'buyer's remorse' over cost of Belt and Road loans

19 October 2019
Indian policeman beat and detain Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourners on Sep. 8 in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir.
Opinion

India, driven by Hindu nationalism, has no right to repress Kashmir

Locals fear Modi's constitutional change will lead to colonization

17 October 2019
India's bicycle industry has been hit hard by a surge in imports from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Economy

India accuses China over influx of cheap bicycles from neighbors

New Delhi probes possible breach of trade deal by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

17 October 2019
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, left, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meet in Beijing on Oct. 8. The Pakistani government's decision to set up an agency to push Belt and Road came on the eve of Khan's visit.
Belt and Road

Pakistan's Khan uses special ordinance to push China's Belt and Road

Powerful new agency and tax holiday for Gwadar port operator likely to fuel controversy

13 October 2019
A Pakistani JF-17 fighter jet: China has helped Pakistan improve its technology to build the aircraft.
International relations

China enables Pakistan to become a defense exporter

India outflanked as Islamabad sells JF-17 fighter jets to Myanmar and Nigeria

11 October 2019