Politics

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein speaks during a panel at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 11. 
Indo-Pacific

Ukraine spillover dominates discussion at Singapore security summit

After 2-year hiatus, Shangri-La Dialogue returns with a bang

11 June 2022
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a plenary session at the 19th International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 11.
US-China tensions

U.S. policy on Taiwan hasn't changed, but China's has: Austin

Defense chief rules out 'Asian NATO;' warns of Beijing's 'growing coercion'

11 June 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers the keynote address at the opening dinner of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, on June 10.
Indo-Pacific

Transcript: Japan PM Kishida's speech at Shangri-La Dialogue

Leader pledges to step up defense spending as part of 'realism diplomacy for a new era'

11 June 2022
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, left, and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe hold talks in Singapore on June 10. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense)
International relations

China, U.S. defense chiefs discuss 'managing' rivalry in Singapore

Two sides reiterate Taiwan stances as closely watched Shangri-La Dialogue opens

10 June 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers the keynote speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 10.
Indo-Pacific

Kishida: Japan to 'fundamentally' strengthen defense in 5 years

At Shangri-La Dialogue, PM vows $2bn in Indo-Pacific aid for 'new era' of realism

10 June 2022
ONE's Jeremy Nixon, left, and DHL's Tim Scharwath do not expect international trade to normalize for some time. (Source photo by Takashi Nakano and courtesy of DHL Global Forwarding)
Supply Chain

China lockdowns to keep freight rates elevated, logistics bosses say

DHL and Ocean Network Express CEOs identify pain points in world trade

7 June 2022
Singaporean Finance Minister Lawrence Wong speaks at a rally on May 1. He will soon become the city-state's deputy prime minister.
Politics

Singapore's Lee promotes heir apparent Lawrence Wong to deputy PM

Cabinet change brings finance minister closer to city-state's top job

6 June 2022
People dine outdoors at a restaurant during the Dragon Boat Festival, the first public holiday in the city since the lifting of the lockdown for the COVID-19 outbreak, in Shanghai on June 3.
Your Week in Asia

More reopening in Shanghai, Japan opens to tourists, Singapore security summit

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

5 June 2022
A seller prepares freshly butchered chickens at the Kampung Baru wet market in Kuala Lumpur on May 31, the day before Malaysia stopped exports to protect its domestic supplies.
Economy

'Food nationalism' worries rise after India, Malaysia export bans

Policies stoke fears of further inflation, weaponization of supplies

3 June 2022
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework initiative is "solid proof of how important and relevant Asia is today." (Photo by Tomoki Mera) 
The Future of Asia 2022

Thailand's Prayuth: Open, rules-based Asia key to post-COVID growth

Singapore's Lee warns of arms race, Malaysia PM highlights supply risks at Nikkei forum

26 May 2022
Yi Xiaozhun, China's former vice minister of commerce, warns the Ukraine war could trigger economic problems comparable to the 2008 financial crisis. (Photo by Tomoki Mera) 
The Future of Asia 2022

China ex-official warns of Ukraine war's impact on Asian trade

Economic setback may be similar to 2008 financial crisis, says former WTO envoy

26 May 2022
Yun Duk-min, chair-professor at Hankook University of Foreign Studies, is expected to become South Korea's ambassador to Japan. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
The Future of Asia 2022

South Korea to restore Japan ties 'as soon as possible,' next envoy says

On North Korea, Yun Duk-min says U.N. is 'paralyzed' due to Ukraine issue

26 May 2022
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says Asia must revive growth by "keeping the market open and inclusive." (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
The Future of Asia 2022

Thai PM Prayuth says states 'must support' multilateral trading systems

Digitalization, clean energy will be 'key drivers' for economic growth

26 May 2022
Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh says Asia "should strengthen its sense of responsibility in creating and maintaining a peaceful environment." (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
The Future of Asia 2022

Vietnam Deputy PM urges world to 'put aside' disagreements

Asia needs stronger 'sense of responsibility' to maintain peace, pursue prosperity

26 May 2022
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says Southeast Asia is "one of the most vulnerable regions to the effects of climate change." (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
26 May 2022
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks at Nikkei's Future of Asia conference on May 26. (Photo by Tomoki Mera) 
The Future of Asia 2022

Singapore PM Lee warns of nuclear 'arms race' amid Ukraine war

U.S.-China tensions risk splitting supply chains or 'worse unintended consequences'

26 May 2022
Singapore is feeling the impact of inflation, with its main price gauge rising at the fastest pace in a decade.
Economy

Singapore lifts Q1 GDP growth to 3.7% as inflation concerns mount

Trade officials warn 2022 result likely to be in 'lower half' of 3-5% range

25 May 2022
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is cautious about framing the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a battle between autocracies and democracies. (Photo by Takashi Nakano)
Interview

Q&A with Singapore's Lee: Nations 'big and small' must play by rules

City-state's leader discusses Ukraine, China and the value of global institutions

23 May 2022
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks with Nikkei in an exclusive interview on May 20. (Photo by Takashi Nakano)
Interview

Singapore to join Biden Indo-Pacific pact, back China's CPTPP entry: Lee

Prime minister stresses need to 'maintain a balance' in exclusive interview

23 May 2022
Like the Trump administration before it, the Biden administration takes the position that unfettered trade liberalization hurts American workers. (Source photo by Reuters) 
Biden's Asia policy

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is not an FTA: 5 things to know

Tailored pact seeks to counter China's clout while protecting U.S. workers

19 May 2022
Prime Minister Kishida enters the Prime Minister's Office after returning from a visit to Southeast Asia and Europe on May 6. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
International relations

Kishida weighs attending Asian security conference in Singapore

Japan PM aims to confirm unity at Shangri-La Dialogue, with eyes on Russia, China

7 May 2022
The Singapore Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large says countries are increasingly taking an issue-by-issue approach to diplomacy, rather than simply aligning themselves with one big power or another.
Interview

ASEAN's Ukraine split shows desire for space between powers: envoy

Singapore's Chan Heng Chee says neither West nor China should take others for granted

6 May 2022
United Overseas Bank, DBS and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. remain hopeful that the recovery from the pandemic will continue. 
Finance

Singapore banks warn of Ukraine war impact as profits dip

ASEAN's largest lenders win fewer wealth management fees as uncertainty rises

29 April 2022
Keppel and Sembcorp Marine are listed on the Singapore Exchange and are among the world's largest builders of offshore oil rigs.
27 April 2022
The rush for tech M&As in Asia has slowed to a crawl in China and South Korea. (Source photos by Reuters)
26 April 2022