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August 1st, 2024

Chinese imports flood Southeast Asia

Governments balance tariffs against need for investments

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The Big Story

Southeast Asia pushes back on cheap Chinese imports

E-commerce and EVs force balancing between tariffs and pursuit of high-tech investments

While Southeast Asian retailers and manufacturers are seeking relief from what they see as unfair competition, government officials are trying to persuade Chinese companies to invest in local production, especially in high-tech sectors. (Illustration by Daniel Garcia)
Tokyo continues to attract unmarried women from other areas, bringing down the city's overall birth rate to the lowest in Japan.
Datawatch

Influx of single women drives Tokyo birth rate to lowest in Japan

Yet married women in the city continue to exceed the national average in childbirth

Xi Jinping applauds at the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in March 2024.
Opinion

Xi Jinping makes it up as he goes along, just like the rest of us

Intellectual drift is the one constant during the 11 years of Xi's China

A Taiwanese fishing boat sets sail to Taiping Island, Taiwan's sole holding in the disputed Spratly Islands, in protest against a tribunal's ruling on the South China Sea on July 20, 2016. 
Opinion

The tragic cost of Taiwan's silence on its South China Sea claims

Pressure from Washington undermines Taiwan's sovereignty and self-advocacy

Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, second from right, attends the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, on July 27.
The Nikkei View

Multilateral cooperation needed to deter Beijing in South China Sea

China continues to claim vast maritime area with no legal basis

A Hyundai showroom in Mumbai in 2022. The company's sales and service network covers hundreds of Indian cities. 
Business Spotlight

Hyundai celebrates Indian success with plan for largest IPO

South Korean carmaker under pressure from Chinese rivals to raise its game in EVs

Baosteel, a unit of Baowu Steel Group, has become one of the world's largest steelmakers by output.
Companies

Nippon Steel ends stormy, half-century partnership with Baosteel

As Chinese steelmaker has gone from student to rival, Nippon Steel is at a turning point

Solvay CEO Philippe Kehren says China's tighter control of rare earths will spur supply chain diversification. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP, Reuters and Solvay)
Supply Chain

China's rare earth rule to speed supply chain shifts: Solvay CEO

Europe chemical maker to aim for 30% self sufficiency for bloc; eyes Japan

With To Lam, center, assuming interim leadership of the Vietnamese Communist Party after the death of Nguyen Phu Trong, right, observers wonder whether the former security chief may be more influenced by China than the U.S. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AFP/Jiji, EPA/Jiji and AP) 
Asia Insight

Vietnam veers into unknown as career cop makes Communist Party power play

Death of party chief Trong brings fears of tilt toward China-style leadership

This SRT train in Bangkok's Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station prepares to depart for Vientiane on the newly opened line on July 19. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Transportation

Thailand's new rail links carry hope for expanded Chinese trade

Laos-China railway become a key gateway for Thai and Malaysian exports

Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak says the army wishes to build more partnerships with the armed forces of other nations, including those from ASEAN and Europe. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
Defense

Indonesian army seeks more exercises with ASEAN and China

Top general wants soldiers to get government jobs, talks of modernizing arms

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on July 9. (Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)
Trade

India and Russia look to boost bilateral trade by 50% by 2030

Target of $100bn set during Modi's Moscow visit comes amid U.S. concerns

As president of Mioya Shuzo, Miho Fujita, left, has been a pioneer in the traditionally male-dominated sake-brewing industry. (Source photos by Michael Achach and Kome Collective)
Life

A rare female sake brewer makes her mark in Ishikawa

Miho Fujita joins sake industry's earthquake recovery push

People take photos of characters from the Japanese manga series “Chiikawa” at a pop-up store in Hong Kong. (Photo by Echo Wong)
Tea Leaves

China's stressed young people find solace in Japanese manga

Struggles facing ‘Chiikawa’ characters resonate with youth amid economic slowdown