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July 26th, 2018

What’s in a name?

How Beijing enlists global companies to pressure Taiwan

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The Big Story

How Beijing enlists global companies to pressure Taiwan

From Air Canada to Zara, corporations advance China's policy goals

Illustrations by Eric Chow
China's Liaoning aircraft carrier, seen here in the South China Sea, sailed into the Strait of Taiwan on March 21.
The Big Story

A widening gulf in the Taiwan Strait

Pro-independence president draws China's ire

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou, right, and U.S. President Donald Trump took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for Foxconn's new factory complex in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, on June 28.
CEO in the news

In Wisconsin, Foxconn's Terry Gou seeks a future beyond Apple

Taiwanese mogul wants to lead industrial AI to survive US-China tensions

Miners search for jade stones at a Hpakant mine in northern Myanmar's Kachin state, the site of recent deadly landslides.
Business

Myanmar jade industry gathers dust despite China-led boom

Local processors say they cannot compete with rivals across the border

Japan is poised to become the world's second-biggest gambling market, after Macau, Goldman Sachs estimates.
Business trends

Five things to know about Japan's new casino law

Parliament passes historic bill opening up $16bn gaming market

Richard Yu, CEO of the Huawei Consumer Business Group, at the launch of the Huawei P20 smartphone in Paris in March. 
Business

Huawei aims to launch world's first foldable screen phone

The priority of the Chinese tech giant is to beat rival Samsung to market

Component makers are still busy with orders from Chinese smartphone makers that launched new models earlier this year, but orders are slowing.
Taiwan tech tracker

Taiwan tech sales slow in June as iPhone cycle ends

Maturing market and trade war pose risk of deeper declines ahead

North Korean soldiers march near trains at the port of Rajin, North Korea.
N Korea at crossroads

South Korean banks scramble to hire experts on the North

Talent holding master's or doctorates sought amid growing expectation of economic cooperation

A guest takes a video using her iPhone during at the Apple Shinjuku store in Tokyo. TSMC's revenue from mobile-related chips, the most important growth-driver for the past decade, is expected to decline in 2018.
Companies

Apple supplier TSMC forecasts mobile revenue drop for 2018

World's top contract chipmaker cuts this year's sales target twice in three months

The Montara project, located off the Kimberley coastline of Western Australia, produces an average of 7,694 barrels per day. (Photo from PTTEP)
Business deals

PTTEP sells petroleum field off Australia

Jadestone Energy to pay Thai oil producer $195m for 100% stake

 Zee Entertainmet Enterprises managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, pictured in Macau in 2012, believes that the advertising growth for the industry could be higher than the initial estimates for this financial year.
Companies

Zee Entertainment posts 31% jump in profit as India ad revenue revives

Rising subscription income boosts billionaire Subhash Chandra's broadcaster

© Illustration by Luis Mendo
Asia Insight

Australia becomes Exhibit A for countering China's influence

As Canberra weighs blocking Huawei's 5G bid, other governments watch and learn

A farmer gathers saplings to be planted in a paddy field in India's northeastern state of Assam. The support price for rice was raised 13%.
Economy

India braces for farmer protests over Modi price 'betrayal'

Growers blast insufficient support while investors breathe easier over deficit

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during the inauguration of the Samsung Electronics smartphone manufacturing facility in Noida, India, on July 9.
Politics

'Chaebol fighter' Moon warms to businesses as employment falters

The president reaches out to Samsung and big companies

Fish ready to be processed and exported. Thai seafood exports are expected to benefit from the U.S.-China trade tensions.
Trade war

Bangkok eyes export boost from US-China trade war

Tariff tit-for-tat could open way to increased market share for Thai food groups

A seafood market in Thailand. The country is seeking entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact as early as 2019.
International relations

TPP plans expansion in 2019 with Thailand and Colombia first

Existing 11 nations to 'welcome' new members after pact's launch

Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference on July 16. The charismatic leader faces major hurdles in bringing lasting peace to the strife-torn nation.
Politics

Myanmar's aim of becoming a federalist state remains a dream

Ethnic strife and a reluctant military impede efforts to transform nation

Singapore's residential property prices have shot up over 9% in a year
Politics

Hong Kong and Singapore move to curb housing prices

Tax increases may turn into double-edged sword

America's trading partners might as well stay low till U.S. President Donald Trump's disruptive trade policy subsides.
Opinion

Trump's Asian trading partners will try to ride out the storm

Amid global tensions, Japan-EU pact shows value of long-term policy planning

Facebook's WhatsApp messaging service has clearly failed to deal with the downsides of its services in emerging economies.
Opinion

WhatsApp, murder and the dark side of social media

Amid controversy over lynchings in India, message service must boost support in emerging markets

The appointment of Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus as governor of Bank Negara Malaysia indicates continuity from the central bank's pre-2016 period after a turbulent couple of years.
Opinion

Malaysia's new central bank head is a buy signal

Investors should give Mahathir more credit following Nor Shamsiah's appointment

Newly manufactured cars in the northeastern port of Dalian: If the Chinese economy falters, the world will feel it. (Reuters)
The Nikkei View

Respect the global economic rules, China

Beijing has been woefully slow to make good on its pledge to open its markets

Guests at Inn A Day, a converted sugar warehouse​ on Bangkok's Chao Phraya river, wake up to the Temple of the Dawn. (Courtesy of Inn A Day)
Life

Asian tourism boom gives new purpose to factories and cinemas

Industrial and commercial buildings are being transformed into boutique hotels

Reiko Sudo is pleased that the main Nuno shop still has the original sales fixtures from the 1980's. (Photo by Fran Kuzui)
Arts

Japan's 'weaver of new ideas' melds business with creativity

Reiko Sudo's latest artwork builds on decades of textiles design

Japanese fans impressed the world by cleaning up after matches, such as this one between Japan and Senegal in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on July 24. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Tea Leaves

Asian fans learn that all 'footie' is local

Japanese and South Koreans left behind as much as they took away from Russia