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November 16th, 2023

Southeast Asia's digital 'battle royale'

Chinese and U.S. big tech go head-to-head over the $1 trillion market

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The Big Story

Southeast Asia's digital battle: Chinese and U.S. Big Tech face off over $1tn market

Geopolitics drive competition in AI, cloud and e-commerce sectors amid social media boom

Chinese and U.S. tech giants, including Huawei, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft, are going head-to-head over Southeast Asia's rapidly expanding digital market. The region is home to some of the world's heaviest social media users. 
U.S. President Joe Biden prepares to sign an executive order on artificial intelligence at the White House on Oct. 30.
Technology

China faces new U.S. chip rules: 5 things to know

Local tech sector and chipmakers will adapt, but it will take time and money

A pro-Palestine rally at the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok on Oct. 21: Thais need to understand that sympathy for Palestinians does not imply disloyalty to Thailand.
Opinion

Israel-Hamas war has awakened anti-Muslim hate in Thailand

Despite toll of violence on country's migrant workers, most do not want to go home

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center, on the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua on Nov. 4: He agreed to provide coastal radar to Manila. (Pool via Reuters)
Opinion

Japan's new security aid program needs more firepower

Defense support too small and too restricted to catalyze bigger export deals

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 6.
The Nikkei View

Australia should keep appropriate distance from China

Beijing is still willing to use economic coercion to achieve political goals

A JD.com Singles Day billboard in Beijing on Oct. 26.
Business Spotlight

China's Singles Day price war takes on painful new dimensions

Sites offer deep discounts but will that be enough to hang on to shoppers?

The Chinese economy is "actually quite resilient" despite some challenges in the property sector, Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm told Nikkei Asia. (Photo by Kosuke Imamura) 
Global Management Dialogue 2023

Rio Tinto CEO says China still promising mineral market as EVs boom

Mining giant sees 'quite resilient' economy, good iron and copper demand

Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, the chair and CEO of Thailand's WHA Group, spoke exclusively with Nikkei Asia in Tokyo after appearing at the annual Nikkei Global Management Dialogue. (Photo by Jun Takai)
Global Management Dialogue 2023

Thailand's WHA benefits from global hunt for 'safe zone for business'

China's Changan set to break ground on EV factory in company's industrial estate

Keppel CEO Loh Chin Hua speaks to Nikkei Asia on Nov. 7 in Tokyo. (Photo by Jun Takai)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, at lectern, speaks at the launch of a floating solar photovoltaic plant in Purwakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
Energy

Indonesia launches Southeast Asia's 'largest' floating solar plant

Development with Abu Dhabi's Masdar marks renewable energy milestone for country

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali in November 2022. They have not met since.
Asia Insight

U.S.-China: One summit, two different goals for Biden and Xi

APEC get-together may be last for leaders before 2024 U.S. presidential election

While advocating for a two-state solution, Ehud Olmert said there is "no room" for a cease-fire in the fighting with Hamas. (Photo by Takeshi Kumon)
Interview

Ex-Israeli PM Olmert urges U.S.-NATO intervention in Gaza after war

Israel must reiterate commitment to two-state solution, former leader says

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is grappling with an alarming assortment of negative economic data. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by EPA/Yonhap/Jiji and AP) 
Comment

Can South Korea's Yoon weather an economic perfect storm?

Voter discontent mounts ahead of all-important general elections next April

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of the PAP. Scoring a decisive victory in the next election is going to be crucial for the nation's incoming prime minister. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Politics

Singapore's next leader Wong to face crucial test in election

First prime minister in 20 years must 'buttress trust' of voters, experts say

Amar Chitra Katha comic books are beloved by generations of Indian children. (All photos and illustrations courtesy of Amar Chitra Katha)
Arts

Telling India's history through comics

Publisher Amar Chitra Katha goes digital to stay a must-read for kids

A hiker takes in the view from Mount Fuji. Giving a label to the pursuit of solo activities -- solo katsudo -- has helped destigmatize being alone in Japan.
Tea Leaves

In Japan, you're not alone in being alone

Social embrace of 'solo katsu' shows that to deal with solitude, relish it