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August 11th, 2022

Test of power and skill

Pelosi's Taiwan visit throws Xi's handling of U.S.-China relations into the spotlight

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The Big Story

Road to nowhere: China's Belt and Road Initiative at tipping point

Pakistan, Sri Lanka debt crises threaten Beijing's regional influence

Pakistani and Chinese flags fly above a construction site in Gwadar, Pakistan. Much of the construction associated with the Belt and Road Initiative in the town remains unfinished. 
Sihanoukville has lost much of its luster as a tourist destination since the development bubble burst, with 1,155 unfinished buildings littering the city. (Photo by Vann Soben)
Business Spotlight

Stuck in Sihanoukville: Projects grind to halt in Cambodia resort town

Rampant development turns seaside jewel into mess of unfinished casinos and condos

Japan's construction industry and larger business community can enhance the country's relations with Southeast Asia by better utilizing their foreign worker assets.
Construction

Vietnamese, other ASEAN workers sustain construction in Japan

As Japan's workforce shrinks mega building projects keep coming on line

President Joe Biden is set to sign the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act into law, providing financial support for chip companies that invest in the U.S. semiconductor industry. 
Semiconductors

CHIPS Act leaves chipmakers facing choice between U.S. and China

Bill's funding comes with overseas investment restrictions attached

From the Chinook helicopter to the F-35, the Stinger missile to the Patriot defense system, American defense contractors are expecting a surge in international demand. (Source photos by Reuters, Lockheed Martin, Getty Images and the U.S. Army)
Asia Insight

Taiwan tensions a boon for defense industry but supply clogs loom

Lockheed, Boeing, Raytheon race against time to meet demand from U.S. allies

Xi Jinping might maintain the countermeasures he took after Nancy Pelosi met with Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei to deter other international dignitaries from making similar trips. (Source photos by AP)
China up close

Analysis: Pelosi's Taiwan visit is Xi's final exam to stay top leader

President under pressure to prove he can manage U.S. relations like predecessors

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, not to "play with fire" over Taiwan. (Source photos by Reuters) 
US-China tensions

Why China is furious over Pelosi's Taiwan trip: 5 things to know

Beijing sees U.S. politician's visit as thumbs-up for island's independence

Rishi Sunak attends a Conservative Party leadership campaign event with his wife and daughters on July 23: The historic possibility that he might be the next leader of the U.K. has struck a chord.
Opinion

Rishi Sunak's rise signifies the arrival of the Indian diaspora

New generations of emigrants have successfully plunged into local politics

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in Moscow on July 12. Japan's policies derive from the tenuous assumption that the military regime can continue to hold power.
Opinion

Japan is backing the wrong side in Myanmar

Opposition NUG will prevail in war and better realize economic development

From left: Shutaro Matsui, Makoto Ozone, Sadao Watanabe and Kuriko Tsugawa. Japanese musicians are learning to coexist with the virus, exploring new ways to reach audiences while fine-tuning their skills. (Photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Arts

Japanese jazz musicians in tune with post-pandemic 'new normal'

Performers continue to jam and learn despite COVID curbs

The members of K-pop superband BTS visit the "Today" show in New York in February 2020.