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November 19th, 2020

LIFE OF THE PARTY

The world sees Jack Ma as a visionary. But Beijing wants to teach him a lesson

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Opinion

What a Biden victory means for China

Beijing must seize the opportunity to stabilize relations with Washington

Joe Biden pulls off his face mask to speak about the results of the U.S. presidential election in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 4: we can expect that U.S.-China competition will henceforth be in steadier hands.
Pro-democracy demonstrators gather outside the Government House on Oct. 14: the threat from the current protest movement is not so much a hammer as a flow of water. 
Opinion

Thailand's punctured monarchy

When it comes to the king, young Thais have lost their religion

Leaders and trade ministers from the 15 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries pose for a virtual group photo during the signing ceremony hosted by Vietnam on Nov. 15.   © AP
The Nikkei View

RCEP countries must work to convince India to join trade pact

Agreement should move toward greater tariff liberalization, more rigorous rules

Too visible, too wealthy: Tensions between the Chinese Communist Party and Alibaba's Jack Ma had been building even before the doomed Ant Group listing.   © Getty Images
Most read in 2020

Jack Ma vs. the Party: Inside the collapse of the world's biggest IPO

The charismatic founder has long clashed with China's leadership. It was only going to end one way

A Nissan Sylphy on show in Guangdong in 2017. The Sylphy is China's best-selling sedan -- a ranking dominated by Nissan and other foreign brands.
Business Spotlight

China's auto brands fail to shine in race with foreign rivals

Electric vehicles could shift consumer opinions as top leaders call for tech independence

From left, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh wave to their counterparts at the virtual RCEP signing ceremony during the 37th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi on Nov. 15.
International relations

Five RCEP takeaways: Asia cements grip as free trade torchbearer

US now finds itself on outside of two massive Asia-Pacific blocs

A Seiyu store in Tokyo: The supermarket chain has seen growing demand for food deliveries amid COVID-19. (Photo by Yoshiyuki Tamai) 
Business deals

KKR and Rakuten to buy 85% of Seiyu from Walmart

Companies to join US retail giant's Japan business as demand for deliveries grows

A taxpayer-funded merger of Asiana Airlines and Korean Air would give South Korea a mega airline. 
Business deals

Korean Air to take over Asiana in $1.62bn deal backed by Seoul

Government will inject $700m to help two carriers hit by pandemic

Chinese chip champion SMIC is no longer allowed to ship to its biggest client, Huawei Technologies, without a U.S. license.
Trade war

China's top chipmaker SMIC cuts spending due to US export curbs

Company logs strong Q3 but warns crackdown on Huawei will hit earnings

Japan's efforts to battle the coronavirus have shown how young women are among those particularly vulnerable to social pressures deeply rooted in the country's emphasis on conformity.
Asia Insight

Japan's virus vigilantes underscore 'suffocating' society

Rising suicides show dark side of peer pressure behind COVID containment success

Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty stipulates that the U.S. is obliged to defend Japan should its territories come under attack.
Indo-Pacific

Biden affirms security treaty applies to Senkaku Islands in Suga call

China calls US-Japan arrangement a 'product of the Cold War'

IOC President Thomas Bach and Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori are "trying to win the empathy of the Japanese people," Mori says as the two discuss plans for the postponed 2020 Olympics. (Pool photo) 
Tokyo 2020 Olympics

IOC may bear the cost of vaccinating Olympic visitors

Organizers confident of pulling off Summer Games despite resurging coronavirus

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

After the harvest: rural and fishing views along the Tohoku coast between Niigata and Akita. Sunny days belie the ferocious winds that blow in from Siberia. (Photo by Mark Robinson)
Life

Slow train to Tohoku

Rugged scenery, good food and a mystical encounter with mummies provide respite from Tokyo

The growing trend of people posting photos on social media of family members without their permission has become a problem.
Tea Leaves

Social media dilemmas challenge proud Asian parents

Eager 'sharents' in India find children underwhelmed by posts of family snaps