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December 14th, 2023

The great nanometer chip race

Semiconductors can't get much smaller. That could be good news for China

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The Big Story

The great nanometer chip race

China looks for shortcuts as TSMC, Samsung and Intel push the limits of miniaturization

The great nanometer chip race
Southeast Asia is raking in foreign direct investment as the region positions itself as a buffer zone amid the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry.
Datawatch

U.S. and China butt heads over investment in Southeast Asia

Region attracted a record $222bn in foreign direct investment in 2022

Porters carry imports into Mong Cai, Vietnam from China in 2018: Southeast Asia is depending more on Chinese imports but growth in exports has slowed.
Opinion

China's slowdown will not stop growth in Southeast Asia

Region's economies can offset impact by attracting relocating supply chains

A military parade in Naypyitaw in March: The Burman-dominated army should be disbanded and rebuilt around regiments formed along ethno-linguistic lines. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Opinion

Time to start planning postwar future of Myanmar's military

Rebuilding will not be possible without thorough reform of the security sector

The headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
The Nikkei View

Beijing must act now on Evergrande crisis

China's real estate woes continue to weigh on economic recovery

A POSCO Chemical battery pack for electric vehicles is displayed at the InterBattery exhibition in Seoul in March 2022. The company changed its name to POSCO Future M this year. 
Singapore's commercial property investment volume declined 11%, year-on-year, to $2 billion in the third quarter of 2023. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Market Spotlight

From Singapore to South Korea, commercial property deals falter

Japan and India are bright spots, although most real estate investors remain wary

The now-closed Nara Prison will be turned into a luxury hotel by Hoshino Resorts by the spring of 2026. (Photo by Katsuyuki Tanimoto)
Travel & Leisure

Japan hotel operators turn historical buildings into trendy stays

2025 World Exposition, planned casino behind tourism push in Kansai region

Fisherman Rashep Valencia says Chinese sand dredging vessels tore apart his fishing nets. (Photo by Nick Aspinwall)
Asia Insight

U.S.-China rivalry hits home in this Philippine province

Cagayan among places caught up in moves to bring both growth and security

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under pressure to build nuclear reactors to help his country achieve its climate goals. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP)
Energy

Albanese urged to end Australia nuclear 'ban' to hit net-zero goal

PM under domestic, international pressure to help decarbonize economy

People using their smartphones in a Phnom Penh park. Cambodia follows other Southeast Asian nations that have rolled out data protection laws.
Politics

Cambodia's draft data protection law fans fears of government abuse

Leaked legislation says personal data could be exposed in the 'national interest'

Workers at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur: Most workers in Malaysia are employed by small and medium size businesses.
Economy

Malaysia plans new wage scheme for low-income workers

'Progressive' model targets small business, but effectiveness questioned

A cafe in Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam's distinctive coffee filters and "ca phe sua da" have become a cultural export. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Food & Beverage

Latest buzz: India and Vietnam to lead Asia's growth in coffee consumption

Region's move beyond tea linked to urbanization and more disposable income

Adventure-minded travelers are increasingly exploring remote, rugged Ladakh, a Himalayan region bordering China. (All photos by Malavika Bhattacharya)
Life

Exploring India's ancient Silk Road in Ladakh

Following in the footsteps of trading caravans in the Himalayas

The author navigates his neighborhood aboard his Tokyobike, connected to the streets that surround his apartment on the western fringe of Yoyogi Park. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Smart)
Tea Leaves

For Tokyoites, bicycles are the wheel deal

Cycling is a rare feature of urban life that gets better as more people do it