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October 21st, 2021

The new Great Game

Central Asia struggles to balance Chinese, Russian and American influence

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The Big Story

The new Great Game: Central Asia struggles to balance three powers

China, Russia and the U.S. vie for influence in the post-Afghanistan era

Three decades after gaining independence from the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan find themselves pawns in a power game among the U.S., Russia and China. 
China has announced donations of 5.7 million Sinopharm doses to Vietnam, an important neighbor with which it is often at odds. (Nikkei montage/Nguyen Doc Lap/Reuters)
Asia Insight

Vietnam takes Sinopharm vaccines to ease Ho Chi Minh City's woes

Pandemic offers Beijing opportunity to firm ties with strategically important neighbor

As tensions rise between Beijing and Washington, China displayed some of its latest military technology at its main air show. (Source photo by AP)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

China's latest fighter jets, drones display war-making capability

First air show in 3 years in spotlight as tensions mount with U.S.

Intensifying competition means long neglected rural populations may soon have access to some of the most technologically advanced financial services in the world. (Source photos by Kosaku Mimura and Getty Images) 
Business Spotlight

Fintechs and traditional lenders do battle across Southeast Asia

Competition intensifies as digital services leapfrog legacy financial systems

Tata Sons' less-than-stellar record in the airline industry does not bode well for Air India, which has seen better days.
Transportation

Tata's takeover of Air India faces turbulence as foes lash out

Burden of investment falls on family's shoulders after privatization

Guards stand at the entrance gate of the parliament building in Tokyo. The Japanese government sees TSMC's new chip plant as vital to its national security.
Semiconductors

Japan readies multiyear support package for TSMC's new chip plant

Tokyo seeks to secure stable supply but heavy subsidies risk WTO ire

The commander-in-chief of Myanmar's armed forces, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, a conference on international security in Moscow in June.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar military chief to be excluded from ASEAN summit

Foreign ministers see 'insufficient progress' in Naypyidaw, bloc's chair says

Japanese lawmakers applaud and shout "banzai" cheers as Tokyo's Lower House of Parliament is dissolved on Oct. 14.
Japan election

Kishida dissolves parliament for Japan election: 5 things to know

Prime minister says ruling coalition's goal is to retain a simple majority

Attack submarine USS Tucson is underway during an exercise: the type of design Canberra will choose will likely mirror the U.S. Los Angeles-class boats.
Opinion

Australia's nuclear submarine deal is a serious worry for China

Decision to partner with U.S. and U.K. will have major knock-on effects

HiSilicon's chip is displayed at the Huawei China Eco-Partner Conference in Fuzhou in March 2019: it remains uncertain whether chips based on ARM designs can be 100% secure for China.
Opinion

China stumbles on the long march to close the technology gap

Unforeseen challenges mean success cannot be taken for granted

The Japanese government plans to provide a large amount of public subsidies for TSMC's new plant.
The Nikkei View

Japan should leverage TSMC deal to strengthen industrial base

But Tokyo must avoid wasteful subsidies in the name of 'economic security'

Popular Thai vlogger Natthawadee "Suzie" Waikalo, who has a Thai mother and an African father, says Thais with an African or African American parent generally face greater discrimination. (From Natthawadee "Suzie" Waikalo's Facebook page)
Life

Asia's biracial children face challenge and opportunity

Prejudice remains widespread but global antiracist movements have helped

Health workers wait to administer COVID-19 swab tests to travelers at the airport on the Thai resort island of Phuket on July 1. 
Tea Leaves

Back on the beach in Thailand's model 'sandbox'

Ring-fencing of resort island shows possible way forward for tourism