June 17th, 2021

Line in the sand

Hundreds of Chinese dredgers are stealing Taiwan, bit by bit

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The Big Story

Line in the sand: Chinese dredgers are stealing Taiwan, bit by bit

Officials split on whether 'gray zone' intimidation or rogue vessels

The Taiwanese island chain of Matsu is closer to the Chinese mainland than to Taipei. Now, some say they are on the frontlines of China's newest tactic: "gray zone" or hybrid warfare, aimed at wearing down or provoking the enemy without firing a single shot.

Recent embarrassments have prompted Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to launch an all-out government effort to go digital.

Asia Insight

COVID gives Japan 'last chance' to reverse digital defeat

PM Suga pins hope on new agency to overhaul bureaucracy after pandemic blunders

Shiseido is answering its customers' concerns regarding the pandemic and other matters, partly with a digital in-store shopping experience and refill stations. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)

Business Spotlight

Shiseido bets on luxury skin care and China's fickle consumers

CEO Uotani adapts to changing customer preferences amid COVID pandemic

TSMC is the world's biggest contract chipmaker and counts Sony of Japan as one of its key clients. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)

Semiconductors

TSMC eyes plans for first chip plant in Japan

Taiwanese company looking at factory that would serve Sony and others

Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn now lives in Beirut, Lebanon, where he is a national. Lebanon does not extradite its citizens.

Society

Ghosn was mastermind behind his escape in box, prosecutors say

Ex-Nissan chair spent six months planning operation while on bail

Startups

India's fintech unicorns eye Southeast Asia expansion

Startups nurtured by huge market will confront local giants in new frontier

Toshiba aims to reassemble its board to include more foreigners and new voices, its chairman says. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)

Toshiba in turmoil

Toshiba rushes to reassemble board following probe

Board chair criticizes former CEO for 'role in causing current chaos'

Pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow, center, was released from prison in Hong Kong on June 12.

Politics

Agnes Chow released from Hong Kong prison

Democracy activist unresponsive to reporters as she leaves scene

Climate activists dressed as the electric Pokemon character Pikachu hold a demonstration June 11 in the U.K. ahead of the Group of Seven summit.

Climate Change

Tokyo vows at G-7 to cut off overseas coal financing this year

Suga takes jab at China, saying 'major emitters' also need to make more cuts

New Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, right, confers with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid -- who is to become leader in 2023 -- during their first cabinet meeting on June 13.

Politics

Asia takes stock of Israel PM Bennett after 12 years of Netanyahu

No big foreign policy shift expected as Modi and others send congratulations

An estimated 6 million people in Japan are suffering dementia, or 17% of the senior population. Eisai filed for approval to use aducanumab in Japan in December. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Kosaku Mimura)

Pharmaceuticals

Alzheimer's 'grand slam' for Biogen and Eisai: five things to know

Treatment for dementia still faces financial and regulatory hurdles

G-7 leaders pose for a group photo at their summit in Carbis Bay, Britain, on June 11. The meeting laid out a wide range of measures to counter China.

The Nikkei View

Revitalized G-7 must lead in creating global stability

Coordinating response to China will be key test for democratic nations

Two women walk on an unusually empty street in Kyoto on Jan. 13: we must have the courage to recognize that old-fashioned tourism is over.

Opinion

Old-fashioned tourism will never return

All countries must start taking this into account

Joe Biden listens as Moon Jae-in speaks during a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on May 21: they evaded any explicit mention of Beijing.

Opinion

Is South Korea ready to throw in its lot with Washington?

Equivocation may breed tensions in the alliance

A completely natural backdrop to the garden of Tesso-en in Gujo Hachiman. (Photo by Stephen Mansfield)

Life

Japan's gardens of repose offer solace in pandemic times

These well-designed spaces can leave us feeling restored and reinvigorated

A conversation between a mother and daughter about online trolls who are "Bhakkua" meaning Supreme Fool. (All photos courtesy of The Gaali Project)

Tea Leaves

No swearing please, we're Indian (women)

Insults are okay, but sexism and bigotry are not, language campaigners say