Politics: News & Insights

Indonesian Minister of Industry, Airlangga Hartarto speaks to the Nikkei Asian Review on May 30, in Tokyo. (Photo by Kotaro Igarashi)

The Future of Asia 2019

Indonesia aims to attract foreign companies with new tax breaks

Incentives give country an advantage over Vietnam, industry minister says

30 May 2019

Vietnam Foreign Minister Phạm says the openness of the country's economy makes it exposed to global trends. (Photo by Karina Nooka)

The Future of Asia 2019

Vietnam will not escape impact of trade war, foreign minister warns

Pham acknowledges short-term gains, but says long-term conflict will take a toll

30 May 2019

Singapore was singled out in the U.S. Treasury Department report on May 28 for persistent intervention in foreign exchange markets.

International relations

Vietnam and Singapore face pressure from US currency watchlist

Along with Malaysia, Southeast Asian nations newly flagged for monitoring

30 May 2019

Asia Insight

South Korea banks on Vietnam alliance after China chill

Northeast and Southeast Asian partners prioritize economic ties over frictions

14 May 2019

Vietnam's President Nguyen Phu Trong is thought to have been ill since April 14.

Politics

Illness forces Vietnam president to miss Belt and Road summit

Ngyuyen Phu Trong unwell due to heavy workload and changing weather

26 April 2019

Huge losses on PetroVietnam projects overseas have led to a government probe. Observers worry this may lead to excessive caution by officials and business leaders.

Companies

PetroVietnam shaken as scale of overseas losses comes to light

Public Security Ministry is looking into who is responsible for $900m in losses

10 April 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits a monastery in Moscow in 2017. The Russian Orthodox Church has close links with the government.

International relations

Orthodox church schism extends Putin's reach in Asia

Russian church creates own Southeast Asian dioceses after split over Ukraine

31 March 2019

Facebook and its rivals are struggling to overcome a tension built into their businesses.

Opinion

Facebook and rivals face critical test in Asian elections

Social media groups must suppress fake news and hate speech, or risk regulatory backlash

20 March 2019

The USS Blue Ridge, the command ship of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet, sits anchored near Manila on March 13. The U.S. recently reiterated its pledge to defend the Philippines and keep the South China Sea open.

International relations

Xi's South China Sea 'fishermen' risk hooking US into conflict

Chinese friction with Philippines and Vietnam raises odds of miscalculation

16 March 2019

Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, center, is escorted by police as she arrives at Shah Alam High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia on Thursday. Vietnam has urged Malaysia to release the second woman accused of killing the estranged half brother of North Korea's leader after her co-defendant was unexpectedly set free this week.

International relations

Trial of Vietnamese defendant in Kim Jong Nam case to resume

Ambassador protests decision after diplomatic bid to drop case

14 March 2019

Students from the VinFast Training Center prepare to welcome a senior North Korean delegation at an automotive startup in northern Vietnam on Feb. 27.

Business trends

Vietnam courts North Korean officials for pole position on trade

Pyongyang delegation toured factories and smart farms during Trump-Kim summit

10 March 2019

Many of the Vietnamese soldiers killed during the 1979 border war with China came to rest in military graveyards still scattered across northern Vietnam. (Photos by Sebastian Strangio)

Tea Leaves

Vietnam learns to live in China's shadow

Four decades on, China's 1979 border war is officially 'forgotten' in Hanoi

6 March 2019

While most Vietnamese have enjoyed years of rising living standards, the economic model of the past three decades must be transformed.

Opinion

Vietnam and the fight against corruption

Leaders recognize the threat of graft but risk losing chance to create stronger controls

4 March 2019

The timing of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's meeting Friday with Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong was not announced until just half an hour beforehand.

N Korea at crossroads

Kim turns to Vietnam for friendship after failed US summit

But North Korean leader likely to cut short activities in Hanoi

2 March 2019

Vietjet aims to capture more of Vietnam's burgeoning air travel market by purchasing 100 Boeing planes.

Companies