China Executive Insights
Rally comes amid criticism of reliance on depreciation to fuel exports China's onshore yuan touched 6.79 per dollar in morning trading on May 11, its highest point since February 2023. © Reuters SHANGHAI -- China's currency on Monday hit a fresh three-year high against the dollar, underscoring the yuan's momentum ahead of a key summit between President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, later this week.
Kioxia Iwate's Kitakami plant in northern Japan is seen here in March 2024. The maker of memory chips has seen its share price jump 24 times, year on year. (Photo by Koji Uema) TOKYO -- Japanese memory chip maker Kioxia has come to symbolize a potential shift in Japan's industry leadership as its share price has rocketed by a factor of 24, year on year, and nearly fivefold so far in 2026.
Output could halve this year if government does not act: Agriculture Department A Filipino farmer sprays fertilizer on his rice crop. Many farmers fear the energy crisis and the looming El Nino will leave them out of pocket. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Getty Images) NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines -- Elvira Fadriquelan, 60, has spent more than half her life farming rice on nearly a hectare of land in Lubao, Pampanga. In this town, some 100 kilometers north of Manila, farmers' fields are in their backyards. That proximity once promised security, but now serves as a daily reminder of mounting debts.
Offhand remarks a key risk; European grandee offers reassurance during Taipei visit Anti-landing spikes on Taiwan's Kinmen, across from the Chinese city of Xiamen: Anything U.S. President Donald Trump tells China's Xi Jinping about Taiwan will be scrutinized. (Anadolu via Getty Images) TAIPEI/NEW YORK -- Taiwan is bracing for the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, later this week. The best-case scenario for Taipei, some experts say, would be not being mentioned at all.
Companies seek to expand Japan's EV market; Japanese production under consideration Autobacs operates approximately 1,200 stores around the world, selling automotive accessories as well as used cars. Chery ranked 12th globally in new vehicle sales in 2025. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Reuters) TOKYO -- Chinese automaker Chery and Japanese auto parts retailer Autobacs Seven will jointly sell electric vehicles in Japan beginning in 2027.
Telecom ties up with two South Korean startups, targets annual sales of over $640m SoftBank plans to develop and manufacture battery cells and battery energy storage systems that will first be used for its own AI data centers. TOKYO -- SoftBank Corp. has launched a battery business in Japan to help meet growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers, with plans to eventually expand overseas.
AI-linked semiconductor stocks raise benchmark index over 85%, year to date Relentless global rush into artificial intelligence-linked semiconductor stocks continues to propel Seoul's market. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) SEOUL -- South Korea's benchmark stock index hit a record high on Monday, as SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, the market's two biggest stocks, ride the artificial intelligence boom.
Deal secured after authorities had rejected plan to buy machine tool company Asian private equity firm MBK Partners is set to acquire a Japanese aluminum components maker after it failed to buy Makino Milling Machine due to rejection by authorities. TOKYO -- Asian private equity firm MBK Partners is set to acquire major Japanese aluminum components manufacturer Altemira Holdings, Nikkei has learned.
Google parent is expected to use the proceeds to fund its AI expansion Alphabet is tapping the yen bond market to finance its AI endeavors. (Photo by Kaori Yuzawa) TOKYO -- Google parent Alphabet is preparing to issue yen-denominated bonds, Nikkei learned on Monday, marking the company's first issuance of yen bonds as the tech sector rushes headlong into the AI era.
Other Japanese firms eye similar moves as naphtha shortage hits food packaging Calbee's change to black-and-white packaging will affect the "Lightly Salted" and "Consomme Punch" lines of potato chips. (Nikkei collage) TOKYO -- Japanese snack maker Calbee will switch to black-and-white packaging for flagship products including potato chips as a naphtha shortage caused by the Iran war squeezes ink supplies.
Senate will now hold trial to decide whether to remove her from office Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte gestures during a press conference in February. Local media expect the House of Representatives to vote for her impeachment when it convenes on Monday. © AP MANILA -- The Philippines' House of Representatives on Monday voted overwhelmingly to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, a decision that is likely to have a significant bearing on the 2028 presidential election.
Tokyo aims to kick off Mercosur talks by summer, Brazil beef imports pose hurdle Talks toward an economic partnership agreement with Mercosur would mark the first major free-trade negotiation for Japan under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (Nikkei montage/Kyodo) TOKYO -- Japan aims to begin negotiations toward an economic partnership agreement with a group of five South American nations by summer, seeking to secure resources and expand trade with a market of nearly 300 million people.