Economy

1 December 2024
Palau is increasing international flight connections for tourists keen to access the white sand beaches and blue waters of the Pacific island country. (Photo by Palau Visitors Authority)
Indonesia's sprawling capital Jakarta is set to get a new leader as the country kicks off regional elections this week.
Your Week in Asia

Indonesia regional polls, India GDP, Taiwan's Lai goes abroad

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

24 November 2024
Higher U.S. tariffs create problems for Asian nations that depend on trade for economic growth (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Trump administration

Trump trade stance pushes Asian nations toward regional alliances

President-elect's tariff focus leaves nations looking to each other, away from U.S.

22 November 2024
The U.S. would benefit from the support of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to manage the economic competition -- or possibly confrontation -- with China.
Opinion

Trump's America must deepen ties with Asian allies to counter China

In new era, U.S. should reinforce economic alliances with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan

21 November 2024
Trump has vowed to impose blanket tariffs of up to 20% on imports from all countries, with levies of 60% or more on goods from China. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Reuters)
U.S. elections 2024

Trump win heralds higher tariffs for Asian businesses

From China to Japan, the Philippines to India, nations prepare for more volatility

7 November 2024
Shipping containers at the Port of Keelung in Taiwan in February 2023. The island democracy is eager to expand trade relations to help withstand Chinese pressure.
Trade

Taiwan hosts U.K. officials for fresh trade talks, sources say

Move to expand cooperation comes as China steps up efforts to isolate Taipei

6 November 2024
Typhoon Kong-rey has wreaked havoc in Hualien county in eastern Taiwan on Oct. 31, blowing roofs off buildings, as seen here. (Hualien County Fire Department via AP)
Natural disasters

Typhoon lashes Taiwan east coast, 8,600 evacuated

Kong-rey kills 1, injures 73, shuts down Taipei but misses northern Philippines

31 October 2024
Containers stacked up at Keelung port, northern Taiwan. The island nation's GDP grew by 3.97% in the third quarter.
Economy

Taiwan Q3 GDP grows 3.97%, beats forecast on solid AI demand

Slow China growth still weighing on export market

31 October 2024
Both sides have said such an agreement will foster more investment.
International relations

U.S., Taiwan to begin talks on double taxation deal: Treasury Department

Washington says agreement will support more resilient semiconductor supply chain

30 October 2024
Taiwan, a global hub for chipmakers and their suppliers, looks to expand its supply chain overseas.
Semiconductors

Taiwan eyes support hubs for chipmakers in Japan, U.S. expansion

Initiative would help industry players with assistance from tax breaks to land

23 October 2024
Taiwan can import all foods approved for distribution in Japan, including mushrooms.
Trade

Taiwan lifts Fukushima-related bans on Japanese food imports

China and South Korea among places that still restrict such products

25 September 2024
The city of Xiamen is only several kilometers from Kinmen Island. (Photo by Yu Nakamura)
Taiwan under Lai

China resumes Taiwan pomelo imports, allows tourist travel to Kinmen

Beijing tests Lai government with olive branch to opposition Kuomintang

3 September 2024
A Nvidia display at Computex in Taipei. Nvidia is developing an AI R&D center in Taiwan's capital that will employ 1,000 engineers. 
Opinion

The smart money quietly bets billions on Taiwan remaining at peace

AI titans and other foreign investors sink $25bn into Taiwan despite cross-strait tensions

25 August 2024
Amid surging labor demand in an AI boom, Vietnam aims to train at least 50,000 chip engineers and designers by 2030 as industry giants look to offset severe staff shortages in their home markets. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)
The Big Story

Vietnam turns chip sector magnet with affordable, quality talent pool

US, Taiwan, South Korean players beat path to Vietnam though boom strains resources

14 August 2024
Japanese stocks have been in a downward spiral since Aug. 1, a day after the Bank of Japan aggressively raised interest rates to 0.25% from 0.1% and said it was open to more hikes this year. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Equities

Japan stocks dive 4,451 points, more than Black Monday in 1987

Yen surges to 141 per dollar as potential U.S. recession spooks investors

5 August 2024
Hotel staff assisted in clearing the Tianxiang parking lot to provide space for an emergency helicopter landing. (Photo by Jackie Chao)
Opinion

How a hotel became a mountain sanctuary during Taiwan's earthquake

Disaster showed the importance of community and self-sufficiency

2 August 2024
Joseph Wu, Taiwan's previous foreign minister, left, and Filip Grzegorzewski, head of the European Union office in Taipei, commemorate 20 years of ties between the EU and Taiwan in Taipei in June 2023.
Opinion

Europe must prepare militarily and economically for a Taiwan war

Once merely aware of the risks, European leaders now have deep concerns

25 July 2024
Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai speaks with Nikkei Asia in an interview in Taipei. (Photo: Taiwan's Executive Yuan)
Interview

Taiwan's premier pushes $100bn economic reform, unfazed by opposition

Cho Jung-tai aims to capitalize on investor wariness of China

25 July 2024
Containers are offloaded from the freighter Alula Express at South Korea's Busan Newport International Terminal, one of the largest container ports in the world.
Economy

Developing Asia's growth revised up by ADB as tech exports grow

Regional lender keeps forecasts for ASEAN economies, China, India unchanged

17 July 2024
Taiwan's newly appointed Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, left, stands with President-elect Lai Ching-te in April, ahead of Lai's inauguration. Lin is working to rev up Taipei's economic diplomacy, officials say. (Photo by AFP/Jiji)
International relations

Taiwan foreign minister steps up economic diplomacy under China pressure

Lin Chia-lung aims to establish overseas industrial zones, insiders say

11 July 2024
The Taipei skyline. Taiwan has inked an investment agreement with Thailand in a potential boost for business.
International relations

Taiwan announces Thailand investment deal, marking first pact under Lai

Move picks up where Tsai left off in diversifying economic ties away from China

28 June 2024
Some 50 years after the first modern-day Japanese convenience store opened in Tokyo, players like 7-Eleven need expansion in countries such as Thailand, pictured above, as their domestic market is set to shrink.
Business Spotlight

Japan's convenience store chains chase elixir of growth across Asia

Indonesia, Thailand, China in focus as retailers face aging, shrinking home market

7 June 2024
A cargo ship is docked at a port in Keelung, Taiwan, in January 2022. Taiwan and China signed a pact in 2010 that introduced favorable duties for both sides.
Taiwan tensions

Taiwan protests as China strips preferential tariffs on 134 products

Minister calls move a 'political maneuver' to pressure Taipei

31 May 2024
Lai Ching-te speaks at his inauguration on May 20: The new Taiwanese president urged China to "stop threatening" the island. (Photo by Hideaki Ryugen)
Opinion

Taiwan's economy should be Lai's first priority

Young workers disheartened by growing inequality, high home prices

22 May 2024
Cranes wait to pick up containers at Taiwan's Port of Kaohsiung. (Photo by Hideaki Ryugen)
Trade

Taiwan's export dependence on China drops to 22-year low

China's economic slowdown, shifting supply chains narrow share of exports

9 May 2024
Taiwanese on March 18, 2024 commemorate the Sunflower Movement, which has left a deep impression on the island's political life that will be felt by President-elect Lai Ching-te, set to be inaugurated May 20. (Photo by EPA=Jiji)
Asia Insight

Taiwan's Sunflower protest legacy looms large for incoming president Lai

New generations build pressure for change 10 years after movement paved way for DPP wins

30 April 2024
Stream article image
Natural disasters

NIKKEI Film: How people survived an earthquake in Japan

Examining the Noto tsunami through location data and personal accounts

28 April 2024
Containers at a port in northern Taiwan. Taipei's top trade negotiator says he hopes countries will "overcome their reluctance and be open to trade deals and trade talks with us." (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Interview

Taiwan trade czar seeks new deals, braces for possible Trump win

John Deng eyes India 'opportunity' after breakthroughs with U.S., U.K. and Canada

17 April 2024
Thailand has been courting foreign investment to grow its EV industry.
Automobiles

Thailand smiles at both Taiwan and China as it courts EV investment

Delta Electronics, BYD among companies betting on Southeast Asia's top auto producer

11 April 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will meet in Washington this week.
Your Week in Asia

Japan's Kishida visits Washington, Uniqlo parent earnings, China data

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

7 April 2024