Showing 1 - 10 of 59
Creating Asean's interconnected energy future
Asia focus, Kar Min Lim and Marko Lackovic, Published on 04/07/2022
» A comprehensive interconnection of Southeast Asia's power grid has been a long-held dream, first emerging into serious discourse in the 1980s. Now, almost four decades later, we might finally be approaching a moment when the pressure for climate action moves this idea towards a more established reality.
When does inflation stop?
Asia focus, Koichi Hamada, Published on 30/05/2022
» Until a few years ago, major economies were struggling to achieve even mild inflation, with policymakers in the United States, the United Kingdom and the euro zone struggling to meet their targets of 2% annual price growth.
China's moment of decision
Asia focus, Yasheng Huang, Published on 28/03/2022
» China's response to Russia's war against Ukraine has been heavily scrutinised and criticised. While Chinese officials have expressed concern about civilian casualties, they have declined to condemn the attack, which they regard as a response to NATO expansion, and they have declared that they will not join the West in imposing financial sanctions on Russia.
Why quantum computing matters
Asia focus, By Surarit Wuwong, Published on 21/03/2022
» Quantum computing is no longer a futuristic concept. The world has entered into the Quantum Decade -- an era when enterprises begin to see quantum computing's business value.
Blind spot in Indo-Pacific vision
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 21/02/2022
» While many people are keeping their eyes on how the Russia-Ukraine standoff could play out, America is making news in Asia as well with the launch of a new Indo-Pacific strategy.
Three-way link
Asia focus, Apiradee Treerutkuarkul, Published on 07/02/2022
» Facing an increasingly uncertain strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States and one of its key allies -- South Korea -- are pursuing increased cooperation beyond Northeast Asia, a path that is expected to lead them to Southeast Asia.
Pakistan a hub for South-Central Asian integration
Asia focus, Bilal Khan, Published on 10/01/2022
» Kyrgyzstan has become the latest country to formally express its desire to join the multi-billion-dollar China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) linking Western China with the Pakistani deep seaport of Gwadar at the mouth of Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Big powers ardently wooing Asean
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 29/11/2021
» The Association of Southeast Asian Nations once more found itself serving as a shock absorber between great powers last week. The occasion was an online summit of Chinese and Asean leaders, where President Xi Jinping emphasised Beijing's strong commitment to the bloc and announced a "new milestone" in relations.
Xi-Biden summit a hopeful sign
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 15/11/2021
» As the US and China stake out rival security strategies in the Asia-Pacific region, notably on Taiwan, the world takes heart from comments by Chinese President Xi Jinping that Beijing is ready to manage differences with Washington as the leaders of the two superpowers prepare to meet virtually today, the first since US President Joe Biden took office in January.