Politics

Nepalese demonstrate for the restoration of the institution of the monarchy in Kathmandu on Nov. 30, chanting slogans such as "King, please come back and save the country."
Politics

Nepal nationwide protests to call for restoration of monarchy

Home office warns force may be used, as right-wing party pushes for Hindu state

2 December 2020
Farmers at the Singhu border near Delhi protest against newly passed laws that they say benefit corporations. 
Politics

Farmers protesting reforms swarm Indian capital: 5 things to know

Union leader says growers can survive COVID 'but not anti-peasant laws'

2 December 2020
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. India and China see a chance to deepen their geopolitical influence in cash-strapped and increasingly vulnerable Sri Lanka and the Maldives, both strategically located in the Indian Ocean.
Asia Insight

India and China compete over Indian Ocean debt-relief diplomacy

Sri Lanka and Maldives seek bailouts as Asian giants dangle dollars to gain edge

1 December 2020
Japan and India will support the introduction of 5G wireless networks, undersea fiber-optic cable and other technologies to India from Japanese companies.
Technology

Japan to help India with 5G to counter China's growing influence

Tokyo will receive cooperation in nurturing digital technology professionals

29 November 2020
A virtual meeting of leaders from 15 RCEP member countries, pictured in Hanoi on Nov. 15: the impetus came from ASEAN. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Opinion

ASEAN must counter Chinese attempts to own RCEP trade agreement

Multilateral trade agreement will shore up the group's Asia centrality

27 November 2020
India's Red Fort prepares for Independence Day celebrations. The country is considering legislation to strengthen control over data collected within its borders.
Century of Data

Asian countries build data fortresses to protect new national assets

Limits on cross-border flows hurt business and risk leaving countries poorer

26 November 2020
People view laptop computers from Chinese tech firm Huawei at an expo in Beijing. China has quickly become a data superpower.
Century of Data

China rises as world's data superpower as internet fractures

Asian 'data sphere' gives the country twice the information flows of the US

25 November 2020
The Chang'e 5 lunar probe completes vertical transport in Wenchang, Hainan, China on Nov. 17.
Your Week in Asia

China's moonshot, Xiaomi results, and India GDP

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

22 November 2020
A BrahMos supersonic cruise missile launcher rolls past during a Republic Day parade in New Delhi in January 2015.
International relations

Philippines set to be first buyer of India-Russia cruise missile

BrahMos will boost Manila's coastal defenses, raising concern for China

22 November 2020
Nepal and India are looking to mend fences as the landlocked Himalayan country tries to maintain balance between its huge neighbors, India and China. (Nikkei montage/AP)
International relations

String of Indian officials visit Nepal, hoping to warm chilly ties

Trip by No. 2 diplomat aimed at easing tension as New Delhi vies with Beijing

20 November 2020
Narendra Modi, center, during a victory celebration for Bihar state assembly election at the BJP's headquarters, pictured on Nov. 11: Asia's tub-thumping leaders retain widespread support.
Opinion

Asia's populists are here to stay

Tub-thumping leaders rewarded despite incompetent pandemic response

18 November 2020
The momentum toward deeper collaboration could slow if Biden's foreign policy downgrades India's importance in regional strategy.
Opinion

Writing is on the wall for US Indo-Pacific strategy

Flip-flops are to Biden what egomania is to Trump

17 November 2020
The Indian IT industry is hoping that Biden's policy on U.S. H-1B visas will be less restrictive than it has been under his predecessor Donald Trump. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Technology

Indian IT companies hope Biden will open up tech visa policy

Fate of $191bn industry hinges on H-1B program in US, by far largest export market

17 November 2020
University of Wisconsin-Madison students study at socially distanced tables in October.
International relations

US colleges lose luster with Asian students under Trump

International enrollment declines for first time in more than a decade

16 November 2020
Pakistan's military spokesman Maj. Gen. Babar Iftikhar, right, briefs to media with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a news conference in Islamabad on Nov. 14.
Belt and Road

Pakistan accuses India of masterminding Belt and Road attacks

Islamabad presents 'evidence' state-sponsored terrorism against China's interests

15 November 2020
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a more than $35 billion stimulus package on Thursday.
Economy

India offers 20% wage subsidy to counter coronavirus job losses

New $35bn stimulus also offers help for migrant workers, farmers and exporters

13 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
A U.S. guided-missile destroyer, an Indian tanker and an Australian frigate participate in the Malabar joint naval exercise. (Photo via the U.S. Navy)
Indo-Pacific

'Quad' nations flaunt stronger ties with first drill in 13 years

China tensions spur cooperation between Japan, US, India and Australia

7 November 2020
People watch live news report of the U.S. Presidential elections at a shopping mall in Hong Kong. 
US elections 2020

China seeks to work with next US president, but mocks poll 'farce'

Trump's claim of fraud reminds Indonesians of elections at home

5 November 2020
The INS Kalvari is escorted by tugboats off the coast of Mumbai. Having already concluded a deal for six submarines, India is talking to France about purchasing another half dozen.
International relations

France and India talk submarines as Rafale fighters are delivered

European and South Asian nations share security concerns as China advances

5 November 2020
Women from the Asian and Vietnamese community participate in a rally supporting Donald Trump on October 10 in Bellevue, Washington. 
US elections 2020

Trump factor spurs Asian Americans to switch political allegiance

Vietnamese and Filipinos still lead in supporting Republican incumbent

3 November 2020
A Rafale fighter jet of the Indian Air Force is inspected during a ceremony at an Indian air base on Sept. 10.
International relations

Pakistan alarmed by US-India information sharing pact

Agreement bolsters Delhi's position in Kashmir against Islamabad and Beijing

2 November 2020
From left, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi on Oct. 27. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. State Department) 
Indo-Pacific

US offers India access to military satellites as with Japan, Australia

Intel-sharing agreement likely to help New Delhi identify and strike targets

28 October 2020
Indian soldiers disembark from an American-made military transport plane at a forward airbase Sept. 15 in Leh, in the Ladakh region.
US-China tensions

US and India seek strategic partnership regardless of Trump, Biden

World's largest and oldest democracies commit to closer defense ties

27 October 2020
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Kidd, left, and USS Howard are moored in Chennai in, 2017. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
International relations

Indo-Pacific and China to be focus of high-level India-US talks

Military pact on intelligence sharing likely during Pompeo-Esper New Delhi visit

25 October 2020