China Executive Insights
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, seen from Musandam, Oman, on May 1. © Reuters HONG KONG -- Markets across Asia rallied Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that a deal to end the war with Iran could be within reach.
App icons of generative AI assistants. Artificial intelligence is expected to be a catalyst fueling large M&A deals. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama) Japan turns into dealmaking hot spot; overinvestment and lack of specialists are major risks TOKYO -- Artificial intelligence is fueling a new wave of global mergers and acquisitions, with Japan emerging as a key hub for dealmaking, bankers say, despite anxieties sparked by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
Japanese automaker partners with Texas-based firm for zero-emission transport Toyota will ship cars and car parts using zero-emission trucks in the U.S. (Toyota Motor) BOSTON, Massachusetts -- Toyota Motor will use 40 fuel cell trucks for transporting cars and car parts in the U.S. under a partnership with Texas-based Hyroad Energy.
Charms set to go on sale for limited time in Hong Kong and London The Mirumi plush robots come in gray, ivory and pink. (Photo by Marimi Kishimoto) TOKYO -- Mirumi may be on the verge of becoming a surprise global hit, with the googly-eyed, Japanese-made robotic companion landing on shelves in Hong Kong and London.
Supply chain disruptions from Iran war could reach vehicle prices later The wholesale price of aluminum bullion in Japan is up more than 20% since the end of February. (Photo obtained by Nikkei) TOKYO -- The prolonged conflict in the Middle East is boosting prices of materials used in automobiles like aluminum and plastics, with concerns growing that the trend will trickle downstream and eventually raise vehicle prices as well.
With wary eye on China, the two sides agree to start working-level talks Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, left, with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in Manilla on May 5. (Photo by Yuki Fujita) TOKYO/MANILA -- Defense chiefs from Japan and the Philippines agreed Tuesday to formally begin discussions toward exporting surplus Japanese naval vessels to the Southeast Asian country.
Automaker to discontinue joint electric model with GM, shift to US hybrids Electric vehicles are disappearing from Honda Motor's North American model lineup with production of the Prologue ending as early as this year. (Photo by Yuki Nakao) TOKYO -- Honda Motor is set to freeze plans to build an electric vehicle factory in Canada, Nikkei has learned, as sluggish U.S. demand pushes it to put hybrids at the center of its North American strategy.
US officials to visit Philippines for Pax Silica project after Trump-Xi meeting Jacob Helberg, U.S. undersecretary of state for economic affairs, speaks at the 2026 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles on May 5. (Photo by Yifan Yu) LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. is working to address the global memory chip shortage through a supply chain coalition with allies in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, a State Department official told Nikkei Asia Monday.
Summit in the Philippines also set to discuss Myanmar and South China Sea A vendor selling vegetables tends to customers at a public market in Manila, the Philippines. Rising prices of basic goods will be in the spotlight at the ASEAN summit in the Philippine city of Cebu this week. © Reuters MANILA/JAKARTA -- The escalating impact of the Iran war on Southeast Asia is expected to dominate this week's ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, as leaders seek to mitigate the effects of the conflict on their economies. The heads of government will also discuss the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and the conclusion of negotiations for a South China Sea code of conduct, according to officials.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, center, has said the emergency borrowing is needed to stave off stagflation. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) BANGKOK -- The Thai government's cabinet approved Tuesday an emergency decree to borrow up to 400 billion baht ($12.2 billion) to alleviate cost-of-living pressures stemming from war in the Middle East.
Talks underway behind the doors to help households amid Hormuz energy crisis Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government has so far publicly dismissed talk of a supplementary budget. © Kyodo TOKYO -- The turmoil in the Middle East is complicating Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's plans to pursue "responsibly proactive" fiscal spending as higher oil prices keep the yen and interest rates volatile.
Kentaro Kawabe says AI automakers with just 1 human employee are even possible LY Corp. Chairman Kentaro Kawabe said being an AI solopreneur requires analytical skills about existing businesses and knowledge of AI. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki) TOKYO -- If humans get involved in artificial intelligence-driven businesses, efficiency will always go down because their presence is a "bottleneck," said Kentaro Kawabe, outgoing chairman of LY Corp., the operator of the Line chat app and web portal Yahoo Japan.