China Executive Insights
Service lowers transport cost for small suppliers by up to 60% Toyota Tsusho ships auto parts directly to its warehouses in Canada and Mexico. (Photo by Kosuke Okamoto) TOKYO -- Japanese trading house Toyota Tsusho has begun offering auto parts suppliers direct shipping from Japan to Canada and Mexico, allowing small players to reach carmaking hubs without being double-tariffed by going through the U.S.
Saudi, UAE and Japanese investors eye opportunity in wind and sun Uzbekistan has high solar energy potential as it enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year. (ACWA Power) TASHKENT -- When Abid Malik describes the wave of green energy deals Uzbekistan has received since 2020, the president for Central Asia at ACWA Power reaches for the word "tsunami."
Past bribery cases in education-obsessed nation highlight stress on teachers, students Students gather at a school in Hanoi. Education plays a central role in social mobility in Vietnam. The school pictured is not connected to the alleged exam-cheating case. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) HO CHI MINH CITY -- A suspected cheating scandal in Vietnam involving more than 140 students who received perfect scores on this year's high-school graduation exam has triggered a nationwide review, exposing pressures and incentives that critics say have long made corruption difficult to eradicate from the education system.
1 out of 10 unable to pass on extra costs at all as China's export controls bite On average, 61% of the rare earths imported by Japanese companies come from China. (Photo by Takako Fujiu) TOKYO -- The cost of procuring rare earths among Japanese companies has jumped by more than a fifth since last year, a private-sector survey shows, reflecting the impact of China's export restrictions.
President's allegations cast shadow on midterms and may jolt Washington-Beijing ties U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about election security during an address to the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington on July 16. TOKYO -- U.S. President Donald Trump has accused China of stealing election data on hundreds of millions of Americans, while alleging that "deep state" bureaucrats covered it up.
PVC maker Vynova cuts production; Ineos unit questions climate impact of Chinese goods Chemicals manufacturer Vynova's site in Tessenderlo in Belgium. A key European producer of plastic materials, Vynova sold its largest production site in Germany last month as the market is swamped with Chinese imports. (Vynova) LONDON -- European chemical manufacturers are urging Brussels to act faster and more forcefully against a surge in Chinese imports, warning that plant closures are accelerating across the sector.
Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow speaks at the Nikkei Asia Forum APAC 2026 on July 16 in Bangkok. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) BANGKOK -- Rapid economic growth in Vietnam can benefit Thailand and create a mutually beneficial partnership, the kingdom's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, said Thursday at a business forum, stressing that the region's economies should remain open to trade and knowledge exchange.
Solid earnings and modest valuations temper bubble fears, experts say The tech rally has led to a major reshuffle in the Tokyo market. (Photo by Kazuho Fujiwara) TOKYO -- The rapid advance in Japanese equities has begun to moderate as the artificial intelligence-led rally cools amid concerns about its sustainability.
Kenichiro Yoshida stresses that the technology will boost creators, not replace them Sony Group Executive Chairman Kenichiro Yoshida speaks at the Nikkei Asia Forum APAC 2026 on July 16 in Bangkok. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura) BANGKOK -- "Connectedness," or close human relationships between people, is the force shaping Asia even as artificial intelligence makes rapid inroads in society, Sony Group Executive Chairman Kenichiro Yoshida said at the Nikkei Asia Forum APAC 2026 on Thursday.
New survey shows falling trust in Trump's US, more confidence in Xi A voter receives a sticker after casting his ballot in the state of Maine during the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5, 2024. © Reuters TOKYO -- Two decades of "backsliding" in global democracies coupled with the rise of more coordinated and technology savvy authoritarian regimes have brought the world to a dangerous precipice, experts warned in Tokyo this week.
GU aims to boost global recognition to raise profile and profitability GU's 2026 fall and winter collection is displayed in Tokyo on July 16. (Photo by Yuji Murakami) TOKYO -- GU, the sister brand of Japan's Uniqlo, unveiled its 2026 fall and winter collection this week after hiring a creative director with experience at Italian luxury brand Prada.
Taiwanese chipmaker raises full-year capex to $64bn, revenue growth forecast to 40% Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has been one of the biggest winners from the AI investment boom. © Reuters TAIPEI -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. on Thursday announced it will invest an additional $100 billion in the U.S. to build several more cutting-edge chipmaking facilities as well as advanced packaging plants in Arizona.