https://www.scmp.com/rss/323048/feed The events affecting bottom lines in Asia’s business environment ­– analysed and explained en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Maria Siow Maria Siow The Quad’s newly announced US$20 billion critical minerals framework aims to loosen China’s near-monopoly on the materials that power modern defence, technology and clean energy industries. But analysts say its success will depend on the ability of Australia, the United States, India and Japan – the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’s four members – to move beyond policy declarations and deliver measurable outcomes. The initiative, announced after a meeting of Quad foreign ministers on May 27, has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3356128/past-failures-haunt-quads-us20-billion-critical-minerals-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3356128/past-failures-haunt-quads-us20-billion-critical-minerals-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim While a wave of job cuts across Asia’s finance and other industries due to wider use of artificial intelligence has spurred concerns, a new study shows that the technology’s net impact on employment is not as clear-cut. Recruiters and industry observers say many companies are adding AI-related roles without having to lay off workers. A study by professional services firm Aon released on Wednesday shows that 74 per cent of 504 companies surveyed across industries in the Asia-Pacific region have... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3356163/most-asia-pacific-firms-use-ai-tasks-without-cutting-jobs-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3356163/most-asia-pacific-firms-use-ai-tasks-without-cutting-jobs-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:16:15 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The threat by the US to impose additional tariffs on imports from India over forced labour supply-chain concerns is a “pressure” tactic deployed by Washington to drive a harder bargain in its trade talks with New Delhi, according to analysts. Following a Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation, the Trump administration proposed that products from India, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and Switzerland would be subject to a 12.5 per cent levy, while a 10 per cent rate would apply to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3356049/us-wielding-new-tariff-threat-secure-big-bargain-india-trade-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3356049/us-wielding-new-tariff-threat-secure-big-bargain-india-trade-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:27:02 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asia-Pacific is expected to drive global retail sales over the next five years, even as the Middle East conflict is hurting consumer confidence, according to business analysts. The war could continue to weigh on consumer and business sentiment for now due to higher energy prices and supply chain disruption, Anand Ramanathan, Deloitte Asia-Pacific’s retail and consumer products sector leader, said in an interview. “As borrowing costs rise and financial conditions tighten, consumers and businesses... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355990/asia-pacific-lead-global-retail-sales-weather-middle-east-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355990/asia-pacific-lead-global-retail-sales-weather-middle-east-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju A new India-US pact on critical minerals has put the spotlight on New Delhi’s potential as an alternative to China, but analysts say despite the country’s significant resources, it is unlikely to dent Beijing’s dominance in the sector any time soon. Delhi and Washington signed a framework agreement on May 26 during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India to secure supplies of critical minerals and rare earths, including their mining and processing. According to a US embassy statement,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355981/india-rises-critical-minerals-race-can-it-dent-chinas-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355981/india-rises-critical-minerals-race-can-it-dent-chinas-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:15:36 +0000 Aidan Jones,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Aidan Jones,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Thailand’s shrimp industry is reeling from the latest blow to its once market-dominant business after Malaysia this week suspended imports from its northern neighbour, triggering fresh despair from a sector whose revenue has nosedived in the 15 years since it claimed the crown as the world’s largest exporter. Malaysia’s temporary ban on five shrimp species – as well as tightened import requirements for Thai sea bass – came into force on Monday. The trade row comes as Thailand’s fisheries sector... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355950/thailands-shrimp-industry-lowest-point-it-reels-malaysia-import-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355950/thailands-shrimp-industry-lowest-point-it-reels-malaysia-import-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:54:26 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A Malaysian power systems specialist has struck a deal with a Hong Kong battery storage firm to pursue large-scale projects aimed at helping the country prepare its electricity grid for more renewable energy. The two-year agreement between Mikro MSC Berhad and Hong Kong Cospower Technology Co Ltd (HKCT) makes the company HKCT’s exclusive strategic partner in Malaysia for utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. Such battery systems are meant to address one of solar power’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355831/malaysia-taps-hong-kong-battery-expertise-power-ambitions-electricity-grid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355831/malaysia-taps-hong-kong-battery-expertise-power-ambitions-electricity-grid?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:30:50 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Asia’s fuel needs may take priority over the strategic risks of relying on oil from heavily sanctioned Russia, according to experts. Currently, there is little political appetite to treat the surge of Moscow’s crude flowing eastward through a “dark fleet” of tankers as a potential security issue. The US-Israeli war on Iran has caused the price of Brent crude – the benchmark measure – to spike to above US$100 since March, although talks with Washington have seen the price soften in recent days to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355618/why-oil-hungry-asia-ignores-risks-linked-russias-dark-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355618/why-oil-hungry-asia-ignores-risks-linked-russias-dark-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:03:12 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Oil prices have eased sharply on hopes that the US and Iran will agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but analysts say Asian economies are unlikely to quickly shake off the effects of the energy shock even if the key waterway returns to normal. Benchmark Brent crude oil fell 11.15 per cent to US$92.13 per barrel on Friday, from its level a week earlier, its steepest weekly drop since early April. Prices edged up again on Monday, trading at about US$93 per barrel during Asian afternoon trading... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355584/oil-prices-rally-hormuz-talks-will-asias-energy-woes-ease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355584/oil-prices-rally-hormuz-talks-will-asias-energy-woes-ease?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:46:24 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia lost nearly US$1 trillion in resource wealth over a 34-year period due to deceptive trade practices, President Prabowo Subianto declared in parliament on May 20. That same day, a set of new export controls was unveiled. Foreign-exchange earnings would be locked in Indonesian banks for a prescribed time limit and producers of coal, palm oil and ferroalloys would be required to route sales through a new state-owned enterprise. But barely had the ink dried on the new rules when talk of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355346/chasing-billions-indonesias-commodity-export-crackdown-sows-confusion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355346/chasing-billions-indonesias-commodity-export-crackdown-sows-confusion?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Recent moves by companies such as Gardenia and H&M to shift some operations from Singapore across the Causeway have put the spotlight on Malaysia’s growing appeal as a more affordable base for businesses facing high costs and a tight labour market in the city state. But while the trend may look like an easy win for its neighbour – bringing investment, jobs and spillover opportunities – analysts say the gains could come with trade-offs, as an influx of firms drives up competition for skilled... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355378/rising-costs-singapore-spur-business-migration-regional-alternatives-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355378/rising-costs-singapore-spur-business-migration-regional-alternatives-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 01:30:13 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asian technology firms are facing a “costly paradox” as they try to navigate an increasingly uneven global AI rule book, with divergent compliance requirements in the European Union and the United States threatening to blunt their competitive edge. Analysts say the challenge is acute for Asian companies. While the EU has a single, comprehensive and legally binding artificial intelligence framework based on the landmark EU AI Act, US technology-related laws are decentralised at the state... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355327/asia-faces-costly-paradox-over-divergent-ai-rules-us-and-eu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355327/asia-faces-costly-paradox-over-divergent-ai-rules-us-and-eu?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 10:31:05 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau The US indictment of Singapore-based shipping tycoon Teo Siong Seng in a price-fixing scandal has raised questions about Washington’s determination to pursue prominent figures from friendly countries, though legal experts say the case conforms to established American antitrust practice. Teo, the 71-year-old chief executive of Hong Kong company Singamas Container Holdings, has several prominent executive roles, including sitting as chair of the Singapore Business Federation and on the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355281/us-price-fixing-probe-singaporean-tycoon-signals-consistent-legal-approach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355281/us-price-fixing-probe-singaporean-tycoon-signals-consistent-legal-approach?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 06:40:33 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea’s economy faces uncertainties from rising inflation, a weakening won and uneven performance across sectors, even as it grows stronger than expected this year, according to analysts. The Bank of Korea on Thursday revised its economic growth outlook for this year to 2.6 per cent, up 0.6 percentage points from its forecast three months ago, citing robust exports driven by booming semiconductor demand and government supplementary spending aimed at offsetting the shocks from the Middle... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355189/transitory-euphoria-south-koreas-strong-economic-outlook-masks-key-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355189/transitory-euphoria-south-koreas-strong-economic-outlook-masks-key-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A partnership between Japan Airlines and a space start-up marks the first step for the carrier to explore diversification beyond Earth-bound aviation, potentially boosting Japan’s ambition to expand its footprint on the moon. The airline is teaming up with ispace to transport items of “precious cultural heritage and human activities” via a lander craft to the moon and protect them from the effects of climate change, natural disasters and conflict on Earth. “In the rapidly changing world, there... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355068/japan-airlines-wants-blast-human-culture-space-and-land-it-moon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355068/japan-airlines-wants-blast-human-culture-space-and-land-it-moon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau The unravelling of a S$1.43 billion (US$1.12 billion) merger between Singapore mobile operators M1 and Simba has highlighted the city state’s brutally competitive telecoms market, revealing a potential regulatory minefield around scarce radio spectrum. The foiled deal would also mean Singapore’s mobile network operators – Singtel, StarHub, M1 and Simba – will continue to operate in a cutthroat price war environment while M1’s owners look for new ways to divest, according to experts. Singapore... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355007/failed-m1-simba-merger-prolongs-singapores-cutthroat-telco-price-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3355007/failed-m1-simba-merger-prolongs-singapores-cutthroat-telco-price-war?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji A new US immigration policy could force many green card applicants to leave the country and apply from abroad, disrupting families, careers and long-term settlement plans for Asian workers already facing years-long backlogs for visas. US Citizenship and Immigration Services said on May 22 that it would only grant “adjustment of status” – the process that allows prospective immigrants already in the US to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country – in “extraordinary... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354773/trumps-overseas-application-us-green-card-rule-unnerves-asian-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354773/trumps-overseas-application-us-green-card-rule-unnerves-asian-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 10:34:53 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran A US plan to build an “AI-native” industrial hub in the Philippines has highlighted the political sensitivities around Washington’s push to secure critical technology supply chains, after Manila rejected proposals for the zone to be governed by US laws or covered by diplomatic protections. Philippine officials said the planned economic security zone under Washington’s Pax Silica initiative would remain covered by local laws, clarifying that there would be “no special arrangement” for the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354574/us-pax-silica-hub-plan-hits-philippine-sovereignty-wall-no-special-arrangement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354574/us-pax-silica-hub-plan-hits-philippine-sovereignty-wall-no-special-arrangement?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 02:30:11 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim As robots become more advanced to carry out complex tasks, they are set to be at the forefront of the next phase of Singapore’s goal to become a world-class artificial intelligence hub. The city state hopes to position itself as a hub for “physical AI” – robots and autonomous systems that can clean buildings, deliver goods, patrol public spaces and eventually work in factories, hospitals and homes. Singapore’s stable regulatory environment, strong digital infrastructure and experience deploying... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354423/robots-singapores-ai-zone-clean-patrol-and-deliver-goods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354423/robots-singapores-ai-zone-clean-patrol-and-deliver-goods?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau As high fuel prices and disruption from the Middle East conflict force many Asian carriers to cut capacity and rearrange routes, Singapore Airlines (SIA) is moving in the opposite direction: adding long-haul flights to Europe in a bid to capture traffic from its Gulf rivals. Aviation analysts said the carrier’s expansion reflected a rare combination in the region: a strong balance sheet, insulation from sudden jumps in fuel prices due to its hedging strategy and a hub in Singapore that could... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354405/singapore-airlines-faces-narrow-window-gain-market-share-gulf-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354405/singapore-airlines-faces-narrow-window-gain-market-share-gulf-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 12:33:32 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore’s push to prepare workers for artificial intelligence is facing a stern test after Meta and Standard Chartered announced lay-offs this week, fuelling debate over how far AI is already reshaping jobs in the city state. The cuts have made one question more urgent for Singapore: can its goal to train workers to take on new or redesigned roles keep pace with increased use of AI and automation by companies as they reduce headcounts? Meta employees in Singapore reportedly began receiving... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354274/singapore-ai-job-cuts-debate-flares-over-lower-value-human-capital-remark?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354274/singapore-ai-job-cuts-debate-flares-over-lower-value-human-capital-remark?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 13:21:33 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia will require exports of key commodities to pass through a state-appointed enterprise in a sweeping effort to curb revenue leaks, tighten oversight of natural resources and keep more foreign exchange earnings at home. The policy, announced by President Prabowo Subianto in a rare address to parliament on Wednesday, would apply to palm oil, coal and ferroalloys – three major export earners for Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Under the new regulation, producers would have to sell their... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354262/indonesias-prabowo-tightens-state-grip-palm-oil-coal-amid-monopolistic-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354262/indonesias-prabowo-tightens-state-grip-palm-oil-coal-amid-monopolistic-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 11:01:09 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asia’s clean energy push is facing heightened supply-chain risk as the Middle East conflict disrupts aluminium and nickel production and could raise costs for solar panels, wind turbines and grid upgrades. Countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines have installed more rooftop solar panels and other green infrastructure in recent years, driven by high power bills caused by elevated oil and gas prices. However, these green projects are facing uncertainties as the blockade of the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354128/aluminium-supply-crunch-threatens-asias-clean-energy-push-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354128/aluminium-supply-crunch-threatens-asias-clean-energy-push-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesian officials have moved to reassure markets that the country’s economic fundamentals remain sound after the rupiah sank to a record low, but President Prabowo Subianto’s attempts to play down the currency’s slide has attracted criticism from economists and social media users alike. The rupiah fell to 17,720 per US dollar on Tuesday, cementing its status as one of Asia’s worst-performing currencies this year. Indonesia’s main stock index, the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI), tumbled 3.46... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354111/indonesias-rupiah-sinks-record-low-prabowo-shrugs-rout-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3354111/indonesias-rupiah-sinks-record-low-prabowo-shrugs-rout-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 10:30:04 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong In South Korea, the clock is ticking on what threatens to become the most consequential labour dispute in recent history – and Seoul is running out of patience. With 50,000 workers at Samsung Electronics poised to walk off the job on Thursday in an 18-day strike, the government of President Lee Jae Myung finds itself cornered by a crisis it cannot afford to mishandle, with up to 100 trillion won (US$66.7 billion) in projected economic damage on the line, plus the potential disruption to global... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353960/south-korea-stifling-samsung-workers-us400000-bonus-strike-risks-wider-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353960/south-korea-stifling-samsung-workers-us400000-bonus-strike-risks-wider-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:07 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain No country on Earth has adopted artificial intelligence faster than the United Arab Emirates – and the Middle Eastern cultural crossroad’s ambitions to become an AI bridge to the Global South just got another major leg up with the delivery of the latest, cutting-edge US-designed chips. But those ambitions are taking shape in a hostile environment. Amid the US-Israel war on Iran, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has repeatedly taken aim at major Emirati data centres, developed in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353743/uae-ditches-oil-ai-build-bridge-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353743/uae-ditches-oil-ai-build-bridge-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Aisyah Llewellyn Aisyah Llewellyn Chinese businesses in Indonesia have issued an unusually blunt warning to President Prabowo Subianto that a wave of tougher rules is hurting investor confidence, exposing growing tension between Jakarta’s push for control of the resources sector and foreign capital that has helped power the country’s nickel boom. Several ministers in Jakarta have pushed back, saying Indonesia must prioritise sovereignty over its natural resources, while stressing the government remains open to dialogue and has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353847/indonesia-pushes-back-after-chinese-business-group-complains-tougher-rules-hurt-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353847/indonesia-pushes-back-after-chinese-business-group-complains-tougher-rules-hurt-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Minh Tran Minh Tran Ahead of next year’s Apec summit, Vietnam has a grand plan to transform Phu Quoc, its largest island, into Southeast Asia’s leading conference and exhibition hub. The 137 trillion dong (US$5.2 billion) blueprint includes an airport overhaul, a light-rail line, clusters of luxury hotels and a brand-new sewerage system – much of it paid for by one of the country’s largest conglomerates, in return for tracts of land, operating concessions and the cachet of building national landmarks. But problems... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353741/vietnams-us5-billion-apec-island-running-out-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353741/vietnams-us5-billion-apec-island-running-out-time?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran A widely touted economic hub in the Philippines will involve eight more countries, signalling greater international confidence in the long-term viability of the ambitious project to boost connectivity and trade in a key region. The Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), a trilateral infrastructure initiative led by the US, Japan, and the Philippines, is set to receive additional support from Canada, Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Initially envisioned as a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353736/western-powers-ramp-support-philippines-luzon-economic-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353736/western-powers-ramp-support-philippines-luzon-economic-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 11:07:49 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji South and Southeast Asian nations may emerge as unexpected clean energy beneficiaries after the Green Party of England and Wales made record-breaking gains in recent UK local council elections, according to analysts. The Greens expanded their footprint in the May 7 council elections, capitalising on widespread voter disillusionment with Britain’s two major parties, Labour and Conservative. It was the party’s best-ever performance in a local election. While Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3353672/greening-uk-politics-could-mean-big-business-asian-renewable-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3353672/greening-uk-politics-could-mean-big-business-asian-renewable-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 06:45:17 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is weighing a sharp rise in defence spending as pressure from US President Donald Trump and deteriorating regional security conditions force Tokyo to reassess how much it must do to protect itself. The party is expected to debate raising outlays to as much as 5 per cent of gross domestic product, a level that would bring Japan in line with many Nato member states and mark another major shift for a country that had long kept defence spending close to 1 per... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353577/trump-behind-japans-push-radical-military-spending-hike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353577/trump-behind-japans-push-radical-military-spending-hike?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Canada’s proposed free-trade agreement with Asean could help the region expand sectors ranging from mining to manufacturing while advancing Ottawa’s push to reduce its dependence on the US, according to analysts, as both sides seek to accelerate economic diversification. Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu confirmed to Bloomberg on Tuesday, during a visit to Manila, that Canada was keen to conclude separate pacts with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353598/proposed-fta-asean-set-be-central-canadas-trade-diversification?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353598/proposed-fta-asean-set-be-central-canadas-trade-diversification?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A proposed airport on a former US naval base in the Philippines near the entrance to Manila Bay is drawing fresh strategic attention after Washington agreed to fund a feasibility study, a move analysts say fits into US efforts to strengthen logistics, access and interoperability with the country in the South China Sea. Experts said the proposed Sangley Point International Airport in Cavite could become more than a commercial aviation project because of its access to the South China Sea and the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353548/why-us-backing-philippine-airport-former-sangley-point-naval-base?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353548/why-us-backing-philippine-airport-former-sangley-point-naval-base?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong Samsung Electronics’ biggest labour union is threatening to strike at the height of the global AI chip boom, turning a fight over bonuses into a test of how the industry’s windfall profits should be shared and sparking fears of an economic slowdown in South Korea. The union has warned it will stage an 18-day walkout from May 21 to June 7, raising concerns about production disruptions, customer defections and wider fallout across the global technology supply chain. The dispute comes as demand for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353543/samsung-unions-strike-threat-fuels-fears-south-koreas-economic-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353543/samsung-unions-strike-threat-fuels-fears-south-koreas-economic-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asian migrant workers in the Gulf are testing stablecoins as a backup channel for sending money home, as the Iran war heightens fears that the risk of US sanctions could disrupt remittances that millions of families and several Asian economies rely on. Remittances from these workers account for 3 per cent to 5 per cent of gross domestic product in several emerging markets – in Nepal, it is as high as 10 per cent, according to data from the Global Settlement Network. Concerns over remittance... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353456/iran-war-pushes-asias-gulf-migrants-use-stablecoins-remittances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353456/iran-war-pushes-asias-gulf-migrants-use-stablecoins-remittances?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 12:04:07 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall One of Japan’s best-loved snack brands is switching to monochrome packaging for a number of its products due to a shortage of naphtha – a crude-oil derivative used in petrochemicals and printing inks – caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Calbee said it would “temporarily revise packaging specifications for certain products in response to supply instability affecting certain raw materials amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East”. The decision by the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353241/oil-crunch-drains-colour-calbee-1-japans-favourite-snacks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353241/oil-crunch-drains-colour-calbee-1-japans-favourite-snacks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 06:52:51 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s plan to stop wealthier drivers from enjoying cheap subsidised petrol has left Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim facing a politically fraught question: how to define “rich” without punishing households already squeezed by higher living costs. The issue has sharpened as the Middle East energy shock strains government finances, forcing authorities to weigh fiscal discipline against the risk of angering middle-class voters in a car-dependent country. Anwar said the government had agreed in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353139/malaysias-fuel-subsidy-headache-leaves-anwar-scrambling-solution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353139/malaysias-fuel-subsidy-headache-leaves-anwar-scrambling-solution?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 08:35:35 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele A call from the former CEO of Proton for Malays to abandon a “mentality of waiting for aid” has been met with ridicule online, with social media users pointing to the national carmaker’s own long history of government support. Speaking on Sunday at the inaugural Musyawarah Nasional (National Discourse) dialogue platform founded by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Tahir said Malays needed to replace this perceived reliance on handouts with initiative. “Go for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353135/malaysia-ex-proton-ceos-self-reliance-sermon-spurs-backlash-spare-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3353135/malaysia-ex-proton-ceos-self-reliance-sermon-spurs-backlash-spare-us?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 08:25:20 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau As global markets are roiled by geopolitical uncertainty and the energy fallout from war in the Middle East, a tiny speck in Southeast Asia has emerged as an oasis of stability – at least in terms of where the well-heeled can park their money. Giig Tanaporn, CEO and founder of business and wealth consultancy Unique Prime Group, has observed that high-net-worth clients, especially from the Middle East and South Korea, have been increasingly choosing Singapore for its regulatory framework,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352921/singapore-shines-stable-investment-oasis-amid-global-storms-very-appetising?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352921/singapore-shines-stable-investment-oasis-amid-global-storms-very-appetising?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Deeper economic cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will hinge on whether a code can be laid down to govern maritime territory and activity in the South China Sea, Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has said. “We cannot institutionalise any of those things until the code of conduct is finalised,” he told a press conference on Friday at the close of the 48th Asean summit in Cebu, when asked about aspects that held the most potential in relations between... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352954/asean-step-push-south-china-sea-code-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352954/asean-step-push-south-china-sea-code-energy-security?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 14:22:40 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji A US$30 million carbon credit deal by tech giant Amazon with India’s Good Rice Alliance will boost carbon markets globally, according to experts, potentially showing agriculture – as well as industry – can be at the heart of emission reductions. The organisation, primarily backed by Bayer and in collaboration with GenZero and Shell, is designed to transform emissions-heavy rice cultivation in India through scientific advances. It helps thousands of smallholder farmers adopt climate-smart growing... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352930/can-indias-rice-farmers-reap-us30-million-amazon-carbon-credit-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352930/can-indias-rice-farmers-reap-us30-million-amazon-carbon-credit-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 11:16:01 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s nascent electric vehicle market may be decimated before it gets up to speed, as business experts warn of a sharp drop in demand and delay in the renewable energy transition if the government imposes strict price curbs on imported units from July, in a move to protect the country’s vehicle makers. The ministry of investment, trade and industry (Miti) on Wednesday announced that from July 1, it will only allow the sale of imported EVs that have a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352893/malaysias-ev-import-curbs-protect-local-car-sector-criticised-inconsistency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352893/malaysias-ev-import-curbs-protect-local-car-sector-criticised-inconsistency?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 09:15:32 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The spectre of the global energy crisis loomed over the three-day Asean summit in the Philippines as regional leaders converge for a final day of talks in Cebu on Friday. Analysts say that while some major flashpoints were addressed – with Thailand and Cambodia’s joint statement of solidarity being a bright spot – surging fuel costs as a result of the Iran war weighed heaviest on the minds of Southeast Asian leaders. The fuel crisis was the “defining issue”, said Vu Lam, an Asean observer and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352850/energy-crisis-dominates-asean-summit-forcing-long-standing-issues-back-burner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3352850/energy-crisis-dominates-asean-summit-forcing-long-standing-issues-back-burner?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 05:17:18 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones A bonfire of red tape to unleash investment and complete stalled projects across Vietnam may drive economic expansion but is unlikely to offset the damage caused by US tariffs and the fuel crisis which have threatened the country’s growth ambitions. Vietnam’s Communist Party General-Secretary and President To Lam, the most powerful leader in a generation, has set an annual growth target of 10 per cent until 2030 to galvanise a nation whose ponderous bureaucracy has snarled private investment and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352808/can-vietnams-bureaucracy-reform-boost-investment-amid-growth-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352808/can-vietnams-bureaucracy-reform-boost-investment-amid-growth-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India’s military is exploring alternative energy sources amid surging oil and gas prices caused by supply disruption from the Iran war, a trend that analysts say is set to accelerate among Asian countries heavily dependent on energy imports. According to local media reports, the Indian army plans to get biogas stoves to replace natural gas-fired appliances for cooking. It is also exploring the use of green fuels for army vehicles and administrative work, as well as solar and wind power for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352787/indias-military-turns-green-energy-options-iran-war-prompts-new-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352787/indias-military-turns-green-energy-options-iran-war-prompts-new-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 11:47:52 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia’s economy grew 5.6 per cent during the first quarter of 2026, its fastest pace in more than three years, but analysts warn that the coming months will pose significant tests for Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Statistics body BPS attributed the growth to robust household consumption – which made up 54.36 per cent of gross domestic product and grew by 5.52 per cent year-on-year – and a surge in government spending. Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, head of BPS and deputy minister for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352750/indonesia-posts-fastest-first-quarter-growth-3-years-headwinds-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352750/indonesia-posts-fastest-first-quarter-growth-3-years-headwinds-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 09:37:58 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar arrived in Moscow on Thursday for a high-profile visit that comes as Kuala Lumpur looks for alternative oil sources amid a fuel crisis linked to the Iran war. Sultan Ibrahim landed at Vnukovo-2 International Airport at 4.20pm local time on Thursday, according to Malaysian reports, and was received by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, senior protocol officials and Malaysia’s ambassador to Russia, Cheong Loon Lai. The king is attending Russia’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352696/malaysian-kings-visit-russia-expected-smooth-path-oil-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352696/malaysian-kings-visit-russia-expected-smooth-path-oil-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 03:48:18 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is seeking to charge two unnamed individuals over a 1.1 billion ringgit (US$278 million) semiconductor deal with British chip designer Arm Holdings, as former economy minister Rafizi Ramli returned for a third day of questioning in the same probe. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the investigation was nearing completion after officers recorded statements from 22 witnesses, including Rafizi and his former aide, political analyst James... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352636/malaysia-seeks-charge-2-over-us278-million-arm-semiconductor-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352636/malaysia-seeks-charge-2-over-us278-million-arm-semiconductor-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 10:42:47 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia has unveiled a new vision to transform the holiday island of Bali into a global finance hub inspired by destinations such as Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore, but the tourist hotspot faces a raft of systemic and infrastructural hurdles before it can attain the lofty goal. Indonesian Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto earlier this week said the government was finalising regulations to establish a financial hub in the Kura Kura Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on Serangan island, 500... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352624/can-indonesia-turn-holiday-island-bali-global-financial-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352624/can-indonesia-turn-holiday-island-bali-global-financial-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 09:42:29 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau With Singapore facing a global energy crisis due to the conflict in the Middle East, the “storm clouds” that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned of at an election rally last year now appear to be an understatement. Under the scorching midday sun at a lunchtime speech in the heart of the city, Singapore’s leader last April urged voters to re-elect his tested People’s Action Party (PAP), arguing that voting for the opposition would weaken his team’s ability to navigate coming headwinds. On top of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352538/one-year-singapore-election-has-lawrence-wongs-team-delivered-promises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352538/one-year-singapore-election-has-lawrence-wongs-team-delivered-promises?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:12 +0000