alt

December 6th, 2018

Caught in the middle

Trade war traps Taiwan between two superpowers

View all editions

The Big Story

Trade war traps Taiwan between two superpowers

G-20 'truce' seen as temporary as U.S. hard-liners lead talks

The government of President Tsai Ing-wen is keen to lure companies back to Taiwan. (Original photos by Getty Images and Kyodo)
The U.S. Justice Department has indicted two Chinese and Taiwanese companies for stealing intellectual property from Micron Technology.
The Big Story

US hits back at China over IP theft in chip case

Taiwanese companies pressured to choose sides in trade secrets spat

Astroscale CEO Nobu Okada launched his company after a midlife crisis made him question what he wanted to do. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Startups in Asia

Galactic garbage collector aims to clean up in space

Astroscale sets sights on growing cloud of orbital junk

The CEOs of Broadcom, CBS and TripAdvisor earned about $103 million, $68 million and $43 million last year, far outpacing their Japanese peers.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron talked on Nov. 30 in Buenos Aires about the alliance between Nissan Motor and Renault.
Nissan's Ghosn crisis

Macron seeks 'stability' for Renault-Nissan alliance

Japan wants carmakers to chart own path, but French are keen to preserve status quo

Grab sees such a big opportunity in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations that it does not plan to expand its payments business outside the bloc. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Companies

GrabPay sets sights on Cambodia and Myanmar

Singapore-based app provider intends to grow along with ASEAN economies

Go-Jek President Andre Soelistyo during an interview in Singapore on Nov. 29 (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
Sharing Economy

Go-Jek adds new markets to 2019 Southeast Asia expansion plan

IPO in 'next 3 to 5 years,' says president of Indonesian ride-hailing company

Shrinking smartphone demand and the U.S.-China trade war are predicted to drastically slow down growth in the semiconductor market.
Business trends

Samsung and rival chipmakers brace for stall in supercycle

Memory market now forecast to drop 0.3% from previous outlook of 3.7% growth

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is displayed at  a product launch event in Brooklyn, New York, in August.
Companies

Samsung faces $5.8bn loss in sales after tech leak

OLED-producing expertise passed on to Chinese rivals

Chinese property developer Dalian Wanda Group has agreed to sell the rights to operate 13 theme parks to Sunac China Holdings.
Companies

Wanda faces uphill battle as 'China's Disney' dream collapses

Property giant poised to focus on cinemas and commercial facilities

Building materials conglomerate Siam Cement blamed the U.S.-China trade war for its 20% year-on-year net profit decline in the July-to-September quarter.  
Business trends

Trade war hits Southeast Asian profits for first drop in 9 quarters

Sliding currencies and rising oil prices hammer July-September results

Hong Leong Bank, which accounts for most of Hong Leong Financial Group’s profits, is aiming a return-on-equity of about 11% this fiscal year.
Nikkei Markets

Hong Leong Financial Group’s net profit rises 11.1%

Company expects to maintain performance after non-interest income drive earnings

Raffles Medical Group derives most of its revenue from Singapore, where it operates a 300-bed hospital as well as a large network of clinics and laboratories.
Nikkei Markets

Raffles Medical's future hinges on China hospitals

Singapore prospects limited by rising competition from neighboring countries

SK Innovation claims less than 2% of the global EV battery market.
Companies

SK Innovation invests $2.5bn to realize EV battery ambition

South Korean refiner seeks to hedge oil risk with electric vehicle play

© Illustration by Tania Vicedo
Asia Insight

Malaysia media spreads its wings as Mahathir promises free speech

As critical coverage builds, will former 'enemy' of journalists set a positive example?

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by aides, attend a working dinner after the G-20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Dec. 1. 
Trade war

Trump and Xi declare a temporary truce to cool trade war tensions

US keeps tariffs at current rates for 90 days to cement new deals with China

The trade war with the U.S. raised the cost of pig feed in China -- right before a virulent swine fever began tearing through what is largely a backyard industry in the country.
Economy

African swine fever closes in on Southeast Asia

Thailand, Vietnam and neighboring countries scramble to prevent contagion

Indonesian rupiah banknotes are seen at a money changer in Jakarta.
Politics

Rupiah thrust to center stage of Indonesian presidential race

Opposition attacks Widodo's latest attempts to defend currency and economy

Rush hour in Jakarta. Wages in emerging economies, such as G-20 member Indonesia, are expanding in tandem with the country's recent 5% average economic growth. (Photo by Simon Roughneen)
Economy

Asia wages grow nearly 10 times faster than in world's richest nations

While still lagging, worker pay in region catching up to advanced G-20 countries

A Rosneft Vietnam worker stands on the Lan Tay gas platform in the South China Sea.
International relations

Vietnam and Russia expand joint South China Sea gas projects

Moves to ease dependence on Beijing threatens to sharpen regional conflict

An employee hangs a advertisement at a job center in Ulsan, South Korea
Politics

A generation of young Koreans losing faith in President Moon

High youth unemployment turning millennials against South Korean leader

Asia should care about local entrepreneurs and protect citizens' data.
Opinion

Southeast Asia must guard against digital domination risks

Global technology giants threaten region's local entrepreneurs

Despite the West's negative narrative, Hong Kong has not lost its positive spirit.
Opinion

The sun is not yet setting on Hong Kong

City should reinforce its value to both Beijing and the world

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe needs to give more substance to his corporate governanace rhetoric.
Opinion

Nissan, Olympus and fixing Japan Inc. governance

Abe must speed reforms to end boardroom complacency and enforce controls over bosses

U.S. President Donald Trump has opted to ease the pressure on China -- for now.
The Nikkei View

No cause for optimism on US-China trade talks

Both sides have merely delayed a solution to their problems

Nima Tenjing Sherpa smells a cup of coffee during a cupping in Kathmandu in July. (Courtesy of Green Land Organic Farm)
Life

Nepal -- the latest specialty coffee grower

Himalayan climate is ideal for coffee growing but farmers face numerous hurdles

The lawns and River Cam at King's College, where Xu Zhimo's memorical garden is located. (Photo by John Krich)
Life

Chinese tourists flock to Cambridge to honor poet

Visitors drawn to festival and memorial for Xu Zhimo's renowned verse

Tourists return to Boracay, Philippines, on Oct. 26, after the island was closed to visitors for six months.
Tea Leaves

Boracay's cautionary tale for region's scenic cashcows

Future murky for tarnished tourism poster child