Opinion
‘US sanctions earned it special access to the Chinese market while disadvantaging European competitors. This levels the playing field.’
After nearly 35 years of harsh family planning policies, whatever Beijing does will be too little, too late. In some areas, the bomb has already exploded.
The likes of France, Germany and Britain have sought to signal that the row – and Chinese assertion in the area – is a matter of international, not regional, concern.
The hesitance comes from concerns over impinging strategic military interests, and a worry criticism will move Naypyidaw closer to China.
To combat the problem of plastic waste, Southeast and South Asia need to adopt a circular economy framework in plastics, which would help cut noxious emissions and fight climate change.
Facebook’s action in response to Australia’s proposed media bargaining code could leave it as a platform ruled by content houses spewing out huge volumes of low-quality articles.
Can the Aussies cash in on Taiwan’s geopolitical woes? At present they’re shovelling coal out of hillsides and most of their chips are potatoes, writes Neil Newman.
Even if the Digital Lord back downs, the real winner will not be public interest journalism but another media giant: News Corp, writes Benedetta Brevini.
This needs to be an area of focus for Singapore this year. Similarly, Asian policymakers should promote gender awareness training in schools and zero tolerance for harassers, while celebrating positive male role models.
By minimising the media’s role at this moment, the US firm will make it harder for people to access good information, at a time when they need it most.
Ridha Wirakusumah, who was named as head of the Indonesia Investment Authority, gets high marks for his integrity and experience.
Although Rodrigo Duterte has railed against the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US, Washington can show its commitment to the pact through high-level talks.
With coronavirus cases falling, the two aviation hubs should experiment with ways to adapt to a new normal. But this could prove harder for Hong Kong than Singapore.
Chinese angered at Washington’s move against Confucius Institutes should ask themselves a question about the meaning of reciprocity, writes Wang Xiangwei.
Investors can get in on the global pet boom, or simply invest in a new buddy for life – but consider a rescue from an animal shelter, writes Neil Newman.
An isolated Myanmar and divided Asean are not good for Beijing. The wisest thing Joe Biden can do is show that American diplomacy can once again succeed in Asia.
Australia would have nothing to lose by encouraging China to explore opportunities provided by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, says Tony Walker.
Authorities need to clamp down on hate speech and incitement of hatred. Don’t forget, the worst ever terrorist attack by an Australian took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, but it was very much made in Australia, says Greg Barton.
The GameStop saga showed the awesome power of social media – a power that poses a danger far beyond the finance industry, writes Neil Newman.