All Asia Pacific
What China is – and isn’t – learning from military drills near TaiwanAs the Taiwan Strait heats up, experts say preserving peace sometimes means having cleareyed assessments of the potential for war.
How women are banding together to change Japanese politicsCooperation is helping some Japanese women break into politics. For many others, it’s a way to cope with election losses and incremental progress.
The ExplainerPort politics: How China fits into Sri Lanka’s economic crisisChina may not have caused Sri Lanka’s debt crisis, but recent moves in the Indian Ocean show how it benefits from lopsided lending.
First LookIs job-hunting a dead end? Many Chinese students think so.In China, there are fewer companies with job openings, but a steady number of young people looking for work. As the nation’s economy continues to shrink, there were almost two graduates competing for every job opening this spring, according to a job-hunting website.
First LookAfter Pelosi's visit, China tests missiles in Taiwan watersChina launched military drills in the Strait this week as a reminder to Taiwan of Beijing’s might and its intention to retain control over the island. The U.S. and its allies have become increasingly vocal in support of Taiwan’s independence from the mainland.
Frozen bank accounts and unfinished homes: China’s ‘desperate situation’Social contracts between governments and people must evolve, and China could be reaching such a juncture as its economic boom wanes.
First LookJapanese minister asks government to stop underestimating womenJapan’s Gender Equality Minister Noda Seiko calls out Japanese government for superficial gender equality, “it’s just talk,” she says. Ms. Noda points out that the Japanese government is currently 90% male, and says women aren’t being sufficiently represented.
In the Philippines, free press won’t go down without a fightIt’s one thing to enshrine a freedom in the constitution – it’s another to ensure that freedom in practice.
First LookSri Lanka installs PM as president as protesters voice discontentSri Lankan politicians managed to overcome their differences and find consensus on a new president for the troubled nation. One problem: Their pick is the unpopular current prime minister, frustrating many Sri Lankans who are desperate for new leadership.
Will Abe Shinzo’s death give his agenda new life?Abe Shinzo was driven by ideology as well as pragmatism, determined to move Japan out of the shadow of World War II and onto the world stage.
First LookHow Shinzo Abe's assassination shapes Japan's election resultsThe preliminary vote counts showed Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party on track to secure a coalition for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who could rule until 2025.
‘A huge loss to Japan’: Abe assassination shakes famously safe countryJapan is grappling not only with the loss of a larger-than-life statesman, but also with a shocking moment of violence that could have ripple effects for Japanese politics and society.
First LookU.S.-Taiwan partnership? China has had enough.China demands that the U.S. and Taiwan cease plotting and stop with military “collusion.” Gen. Li Zuocheng, from Mainland China’s People’s Liberation Army, said in a virtual meeting that national sovereignty needed to be protected, and that the U.S. was meddling in Asian affairs.
First LookAbe Shinzo: A legacy Japan 'should be proud of'Abe Shinzo, who was assassinated Friday, angered many across Asia during his years as prime minister with his revisionist views and a push to revamp the Japanese military. Yet he also revitalized Japan’s economy and served as a rare beacon of political stability in the region.
China’s anniversary deal for Hong Kong: Conform and prosperXi Jinping’s recent visit to Hong Kong reveals how China is increasingly sacrificing diversity for ideological conformity.
First LookShanghai data leak: China tested by possible largest hack in history“ChinaDan,” a Chinese hacker, claims to possess the phone numbers, names, and ages of 1 billion Chinese citizens. Although the scale of the leak seems huge, experts say many online advertising companies already get the same type of data when browsing online.
First LookAnother era, another Marcos: Philippines greets new PresidentIn his inaugural speech as the 17th president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended the stained legacy his father left behind, opting to instead highlight his economic successes. However, for the victims of the ousted dictator's regime, it’s not that simple.
Catholic nation? The Filipino Church rethinks its role in politics.A new Marcos government has Catholic leaders rethinking decades of inaction, and taking on more responsibility in the political sphere.
First LookTalent drain: Could Hong Kong shift from a financial to tech giant?Hong Kong’s status as a global business center is waning and some say a transformation is due. Last year, 90,000 people left Hong Kong and during the second wave of COVID this year, more than 100,000 people left. City leaders are puzzling through what comes next.
UN China trip: A foot in the door or human rights letdown?The commissioner of human rights got tripped up in the divide between China’s authoritarian take on human rights and that of the liberal West.
