https://www.scmp.com/rss/522379/feed The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a multilateral development bank, headquartered in Metro Manila, Philippines, established in 1966. Its primary mission is to foster social and economic development and reduce poverty across Asia and the Pacific. The ADB provides loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to its 68 member countries. Its key areas of activity include infrastructure, education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and regional integration. The institution is... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Anthony Rowley Anthony Rowley The law of unintended consequences, a theory popularised by American sociologist Robert K Merton, has rarely been more applicable to any situation than to US President Donald Trump’s war with Iran. Those consequences will be far greater than generally imagined. Their impact will fall heavily on Asia, the world’s most energy-import-dependent region and will almost certainly hurt US ally Japan more than it will the US’ main rival, China. Indeed, China may even emerge from the crisis with an... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348014/asia-worst-effects-trumps-war-iran-are-yet-come?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3348014/asia-worst-effects-trumps-war-iran-are-yet-come?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Hamzah Rifaat Hamzah Rifaat There is no sign that US President Donald Trump is going to budge on his tariff policy. The 90-day pause on his “Liberation Day” tariffs does not preclude his penchant for protectionism or punishing countries for adopting what he sees as unfair trade practices. His latest round of tariffs, which is set to take effect on August 1, bodes ill for East Asia. Japan and South Korea – two of Washington’s closest allies in Asia – will see their exports hit with a 25 per cent tariff, while Southeast... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3318613/how-chinas-pragmatic-balancing-puts-it-asean-pole-position?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3318613/how-chinas-pragmatic-balancing-puts-it-asean-pole-position?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles A long-delayed railway that would link key military bases and economic hubs in the Philippines has been resurrected – this time with the backing of the United States and Japan, replacing an earlier plan funded by China that quietly fell through. Analysts see the railway’s revival as part of broader efforts by the US and Japan to counter China’s regional influence, positioning the project as both a trade route and a strategic asset that enhances their military and security ties with the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3316401/us-japan-put-philippine-railway-project-back-track-after-china-plans-fall-through?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3316401/us-japan-put-philippine-railway-project-back-track-after-china-plans-fall-through?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:04:38 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar A Qatari firm has pledged a US$2.5 billion investment to help Indonesia realise an ambitious affordable housing push, with plans to build 1 million homes over five years – a major contribution to President Prabowo Subianto’s broader pledge to construct 3 million new dwellings during his term. The initiative is expected to face complex challenges – from securing land and managing construction costs to integrating housing with urban infrastructure – but officials and experts say these could be... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3315983/indonesias-3-million-homes-push-gets-us25-billion-boost-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3315983/indonesias-3-million-homes-push-gets-us25-billion-boost-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Nicole Cheah Nicole Cheah Pacific island nations are racing to enhance marine conservation, establishing sweeping “no-take” zones and pledging to sustainably manage vast swathes of their territorial waters despite facing limited resources and geopolitical pressure. Among them, Samoa last month unveiled a ban on fishing, mining and other extractive activities over 30 per cent of its ocean territory by 2027. The move will create 36,000 sq km (13,900 square miles) of marine protected areas (MPAs) – more than 12 times the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3315979/pacific-island-nations-tap-indigenous-know-how-safeguard-ocean-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3315979/pacific-island-nations-tap-indigenous-know-how-safeguard-ocean-health?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 01:30:16 +0000