In Southeast Asia, Chinese EV builders from established giants like BYD and Great Wall to start-ups such as Hozon are offering discounts in a bid to take on Japanese rivals whose petrol cars dominate the market.

Japan’s growing role as a security provider in Asia is necessary, with the US preoccupied with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, analysts say.

The project will see the construction of military barracks and other infrastructure aimed at countering China’s activities in the disputed waters.

Analysts say the months-long presence of two Chinese warships at Cambodia’s recently expanded Ream Naval Base points to a new transit point for China’s military ‘to stop, rest, refuel, and resupply’.

This is the group’s second attempt at resupplying the fishermen after a failed try in December when Chinese vessels tailed the group’s main ship.

Distracted by conflicts elsewhere, the international community has shown a distinct ‘lack of imagination’ and unwillingness to act more decisively in Myanmar for fear of sparking a US-China proxy war, researchers say.

Atin Ito civilian-led supply mission to assert Philippine rights expected to be met by China’s ‘huge force to blockade Scarborough Shoal’: former US Air Force official.

China told Asean officials that the weapons system, which can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles, is a serious threat to regional security and stability,

Betty Yuen of the city’s General Chamber of Commerce says the sector can explore new markets in Asean and the Middle East.

Singapore’s unwavering stance that is neither “pro-China” nor “pro-US” is a way of insulating itself from internal and external pressures, analysts say.

European firms have been revising expectations for the Chinese market while planning for a projected economic slowdown, further adding to China’s challenges and ‘setting a negative cycle in motion’.

Emerging alliance expected to undertake more maritime exercises and provide greater security help to the Philippines in its South China Sea claims.

The outlay, to be done over the next four years, doubles the investment of subsidiary Amazon Web Services in the city state.

The Philippines has played its cards right by signalling that it’s ‘willing to work with anyone’ for strategic advantage, analysts say.

Madagascar, Ivory Coast and Nigeria were first on the itinerary for Tokyo’s top diplomat this week, as she also sought to push Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Silicon Valley giants including Microsoft, Amazon and Google, along with Chinese tech conglomerates such as Alibaba, are making a big push to grow in Southeast Asia.

The annual Leaders’ Retreat ‘formally introduces’ Lawrence Wong and Prabowo Subianto as their respective countries’ new leaders, in addition to deepening bilateral ties.

With the junkets of Asia’s gambling capital ‘decimated’ by an anti-corruption crackdown, money launderers have shifted focus to more loosely regulated casinos in Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Myanmar.

Readers discuss Beijing’s dealings with Manila over their dispute in the South China Sea, and Moscow’s changing attitude to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Wang Yi vows China will continue to invest more in Cambodian infrastructure and promote production capacity cooperation: foreign ministry.