🇷🇺 Russia Runs Nuclear Missile Drills in Siberia
Russia's strategic missile forces conducted field exercises in Siberia involving Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Russia's Defence Ministry announced on April 2.
Crews practised camouflage and concealment of ground-based missiles, along with responses to simulated enemy attacks and countering air attack weapons. No missile launches were reported.
Russia holds regular exercises of its strategic nuclear forces to test combat readiness, with the drills occurring amid heightened tension between Russia and NATO members over the war in Ukraine.
#Russia
@asianomics
Russia's strategic missile forces conducted field exercises in Siberia involving Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Russia's Defence Ministry announced on April 2.
Crews practised camouflage and concealment of ground-based missiles, along with responses to simulated enemy attacks and countering air attack weapons. No missile launches were reported.
Russia holds regular exercises of its strategic nuclear forces to test combat readiness, with the drills occurring amid heightened tension between Russia and NATO members over the war in Ukraine.
#Russia
@asianomics
The Straits Times
Russian nuclear missile forces hold drills in Siberia
MOSCOW, April 2 - Russian strategic missile forces have conducted drills in Siberia involving camouflaged movements of Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles that are capable of delivering nuclear warheads, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday. Read more…
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🇨🇳 CAS Space Files $600M Star Market IPO
CAS Space, founded in 2018 and incubated by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has submitted a listing application to Shanghai's Star Market. The company plans to raise 4.18 billion yuan to fund development of reusable heavy-lift rockets, spacecraft, and liquid-fuel engines.
CAS Space held approximately 50 percent of China's private commercial launch market by payload in 2024, rising to 63 percent in 2025, according to Frost & Sullivan data. The company completed 11 launch missions delivering 86 satellites into orbit, but reported accumulated net losses of 2.5 billion yuan through the first nine months of 2025.
Several domestic competitors are pursuing listings on similar timelines. LandSpace has entered the exchange inquiry stage, while Space Pioneer, Galactic Energy, and iSpace are in early listing preparations. China conducted 93 orbital launches in 2025, compared to 193 by the United States.
#China
@asianomics
CAS Space, founded in 2018 and incubated by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has submitted a listing application to Shanghai's Star Market. The company plans to raise 4.18 billion yuan to fund development of reusable heavy-lift rockets, spacecraft, and liquid-fuel engines.
CAS Space held approximately 50 percent of China's private commercial launch market by payload in 2024, rising to 63 percent in 2025, according to Frost & Sullivan data. The company completed 11 launch missions delivering 86 satellites into orbit, but reported accumulated net losses of 2.5 billion yuan through the first nine months of 2025.
Several domestic competitors are pursuing listings on similar timelines. LandSpace has entered the exchange inquiry stage, while Space Pioneer, Galactic Energy, and iSpace are in early listing preparations. China conducted 93 orbital launches in 2025, compared to 193 by the United States.
#China
@asianomics
South China Morning Post
Countdown starts for Chinese rocket maker CAS Space’s Shanghai listing
China’s commercial rocket champion plans to raise US$600 million on the Star Market after its listing application is accepted.
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🇨🇳🇹🇼 PLA Eastern Theater Posts Taiwan Unification Poster
China's People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command published a propaganda poster titled "For This Province" on April 3, during the Qingming holiday period. The poster depicts scenes framed as a post-unification Taiwan, including a Beijing-Taipei expressway, a Beijing-Taipei Fuxing rail service, and a "Complete National Unification Monument".
The Eastern Theater Command's official Weibo account accompanied the poster with text honoring those described as having sacrificed and struggled for national unification. A section of the poster rendered in black and white depicted graves labeled as a burial ground for "Taiwan independence separatists", alongside classical verse with the final two lines printed in black contrasting against red opening lines.
The Eastern Theater Command has previously issued Taiwan-related messaging at significant dates, including during major military exercises, using videos, posters, and slogans to reinforce mainland China's position on Taiwan.
#China #Taiwan
@asianomics
China's People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command published a propaganda poster titled "For This Province" on April 3, during the Qingming holiday period. The poster depicts scenes framed as a post-unification Taiwan, including a Beijing-Taipei expressway, a Beijing-Taipei Fuxing rail service, and a "Complete National Unification Monument".
The Eastern Theater Command's official Weibo account accompanied the poster with text honoring those described as having sacrificed and struggled for national unification. A section of the poster rendered in black and white depicted graves labeled as a burial ground for "Taiwan independence separatists", alongside classical verse with the final two lines printed in black contrasting against red opening lines.
The Eastern Theater Command has previously issued Taiwan-related messaging at significant dates, including during major military exercises, using videos, posters, and slogans to reinforce mainland China's position on Taiwan.
#China #Taiwan
@asianomics
www.zaobao.com.sg
解放军东部战区清明发海报《为了这个省》
中国大陆解放军东部战区在清明连假期间发布海报《为了这个省》，展示“统一后台湾省清明节场景”，其中包括“京台高速”、“完全统一纪念碑”等元素。
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🇨🇳🇰🇵 Air China Beijing-Pyongyang Route Suspended Again
Air China has suspended its Beijing–Pyongyang route in April, just days after the service resumed on March 30 following a six-year hiatus. The airline gave no reason for the suspension and provided no restart date, with flights on April 6 confirmed cancelled and those on April 13, 20, and 27 left undetermined.
May flights have been listed in the booking system but tickets cannot be purchased. The inaugural flight carried only around a dozen passengers, and the route operated on a weekly schedule with base fares starting at 2,040 yuan.
One source cited rising fuel costs driven by the war as a factor making the low-demand route difficult to sustain commercially. The route's brief return was described as largely symbolic in nature.
#China #NorthKorea
@asianomics
Air China has suspended its Beijing–Pyongyang route in April, just days after the service resumed on March 30 following a six-year hiatus. The airline gave no reason for the suspension and provided no restart date, with flights on April 6 confirmed cancelled and those on April 13, 20, and 27 left undetermined.
May flights have been listed in the booking system but tickets cannot be purchased. The inaugural flight carried only around a dozen passengers, and the route operated on a weekly schedule with base fares starting at 2,040 yuan.
One source cited rising fuel costs driven by the war as a factor making the low-demand route difficult to sustain commercially. The route's brief return was described as largely symbolic in nature.
#China #NorthKorea
@asianomics
www.zaobao.com.sg
中国国航北京至平壤航线复飞后再度停运
在短暂恢复运营后，中国国际航空公司北京往返朝鲜首都平壤的直航航线已于4月暂停运行。
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🇨🇳 China Upgrades BeiDou Satellite Navigation System
China is overhauling the BeiDou satellite navigation system, consolidating its active constellation from 50 to 37 satellites and replacing older models with third-generation BDS-3 units. The China Satellite Navigation Office released the plan in late March, outlining a shift toward medium Earth orbit to enable more consistent global coverage comparable to GPS and the EU's Galileo.
The restructured network will include five satellites in inclined geosynchronous orbits for higher-latitude signal reliability and four in geostationary orbit focused on Belt and Road Initiative regions. Thirteen older BDS-2 satellites will be decommissioned, while five orbital slots remain vacant for future expansion.
China's 14th Five-Year Plan committed to accelerating BeiDou's deployment in key industries and consumer markets internationally. BeiDou's current overseas user base is concentrated in Belt and Road countries, including ship navigation in the Middle East and agricultural and transport applications in Central Asia. Zheng Shanjie, head of China's National Development and Reform Commission, projected the system's value would reach 1 trillion yuan within five years.
#China
@asianomics
China is overhauling the BeiDou satellite navigation system, consolidating its active constellation from 50 to 37 satellites and replacing older models with third-generation BDS-3 units. The China Satellite Navigation Office released the plan in late March, outlining a shift toward medium Earth orbit to enable more consistent global coverage comparable to GPS and the EU's Galileo.
The restructured network will include five satellites in inclined geosynchronous orbits for higher-latitude signal reliability and four in geostationary orbit focused on Belt and Road Initiative regions. Thirteen older BDS-2 satellites will be decommissioned, while five orbital slots remain vacant for future expansion.
China's 14th Five-Year Plan committed to accelerating BeiDou's deployment in key industries and consumer markets internationally. BeiDou's current overseas user base is concentrated in Belt and Road countries, including ship navigation in the Middle East and agricultural and transport applications in Central Asia. Zheng Shanjie, head of China's National Development and Reform Commission, projected the system's value would reach 1 trillion yuan within five years.
#China
@asianomics
South China Morning Post
China’s GPS rival, BeiDou, dominates at home. Now, it aims to convert the world
China is overhauling its home-grown satellite navigation system as part of a push to expand the network’s global influence.
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🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Battles Energy Crisis, Economic Strain
Sri Lanka's government has rationed fuel, raised fuel prices by a third, and increased electricity costs by up to 40 per cent since the Middle East war began disrupting global energy supplies. The measures compound the economic damage from Cyclone Ditwah, which killed 641 people and caused an estimated US$4.1 billion in damage late in 2025.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's administration is also managing review conditions tied to a US$2.9 billion IMF bailout loan, with a US$700 million instalment pending. Sri Lankan authorities have indicated they may request modifications to the loan's austerity conditions given the deteriorating external environment.
The Frontline Socialist Party, which led the 2022 protests that removed former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has warned that the current administration may face a similar political implosion. Human rights lawyer Bhavani Fonseka noted that emergency laws, introduced after Cyclone Ditwah, give authorities broad powers to arrest and detain, which could limit public protest activity.
#SriLanka
@asianomics
Sri Lanka's government has rationed fuel, raised fuel prices by a third, and increased electricity costs by up to 40 per cent since the Middle East war began disrupting global energy supplies. The measures compound the economic damage from Cyclone Ditwah, which killed 641 people and caused an estimated US$4.1 billion in damage late in 2025.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's administration is also managing review conditions tied to a US$2.9 billion IMF bailout loan, with a US$700 million instalment pending. Sri Lankan authorities have indicated they may request modifications to the loan's austerity conditions given the deteriorating external environment.
The Frontline Socialist Party, which led the 2022 protests that removed former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has warned that the current administration may face a similar political implosion. Human rights lawyer Bhavani Fonseka noted that emergency laws, introduced after Cyclone Ditwah, give authorities broad powers to arrest and detain, which could limit public protest activity.
#SriLanka
@asianomics
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🇮🇩 Three More Indonesian UN Peacekeepers Wounded Lebanon
Three UN peacekeepers wounded in a blast at a UN facility near El Adeisse on April 3 have been identified as Indonesian by the UN Information Centre in Jakarta. UNIFIL stated the explosion occurred inside the compound in the afternoon, with two of the three sustaining serious injuries. The origin of the blast was listed as unknown.
The incident followed a series of deaths among Indonesian peacekeepers in the same region. One Indonesian peacekeeper died on March 29 after a projectile exploded in southern Lebanon, with a UN security source telling AFP that fire from an Israeli tank was responsible. A day later, two more Indonesian peacekeepers died when an explosion struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy.
The bodies of the three previously killed peacekeepers were scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on April 4, according to Indonesia's military. Indonesia now has six peacekeepers killed or wounded in southern Lebanon within a week.
#Indonesia
@asianomics
Three UN peacekeepers wounded in a blast at a UN facility near El Adeisse on April 3 have been identified as Indonesian by the UN Information Centre in Jakarta. UNIFIL stated the explosion occurred inside the compound in the afternoon, with two of the three sustaining serious injuries. The origin of the blast was listed as unknown.
The incident followed a series of deaths among Indonesian peacekeepers in the same region. One Indonesian peacekeeper died on March 29 after a projectile exploded in southern Lebanon, with a UN security source telling AFP that fire from an Israeli tank was responsible. A day later, two more Indonesian peacekeepers died when an explosion struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy.
The bodies of the three previously killed peacekeepers were scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on April 4, according to Indonesia's military. Indonesia now has six peacekeepers killed or wounded in southern Lebanon within a week.
#Indonesia
@asianomics
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🇰🇷 South Korea Restarts Gori-2 Nuclear Reactor
South Korea restarted the Gori-2 nuclear reactor on Saturday, three years after it was suspended for safety inspections and facility improvements. The reactor is located at the Gori Nuclear Power Plant in Busan, 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
Gori-2 began commercial operations in April 1983 as the country's third nuclear reactor. Its 40-year operating permit expired in April 2023, triggering the mandatory suspension.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., the plant's operator, received permission to resume operations last November before completing the restart on Saturday.
#SouthKorea
@asianomics
South Korea restarted the Gori-2 nuclear reactor on Saturday, three years after it was suspended for safety inspections and facility improvements. The reactor is located at the Gori Nuclear Power Plant in Busan, 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
Gori-2 began commercial operations in April 1983 as the country's third nuclear reactor. Its 40-year operating permit expired in April 2023, triggering the mandatory suspension.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., the plant's operator, received permission to resume operations last November before completing the restart on Saturday.
#SouthKorea
@asianomics
Yonhap News Agency
S. Korea restarts operation of Gori-2 nuclear reactor
SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea restarted the Gori-2 reactor on Saturday three year...
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🇨🇳 China Releases Free Bamboo Drone Flight Software
A research team in China has published what they describe as the world's first open-source flight control system built specifically for bamboo-frame unmanned aerial vehicles. The software is being made available at no cost to developers.
The system is designed to address a core technical challenge in sustainable drone development: integrating non-traditional structural materials such as bamboo with high-performance autonomous flight controls. Bamboo-frame UAVs have been positioned as a lower-cost and more eco-friendly alternative to conventional drone materials.
The release follows earlier Chinese research into bamboo-fibre fixed-wing drones, which demonstrated cost reductions of up to 75 percent compared to standard designs. The open-source format is intended to accelerate further development across the UAV sector.
#China
@asianomics
A research team in China has published what they describe as the world's first open-source flight control system built specifically for bamboo-frame unmanned aerial vehicles. The software is being made available at no cost to developers.
The system is designed to address a core technical challenge in sustainable drone development: integrating non-traditional structural materials such as bamboo with high-performance autonomous flight controls. Bamboo-frame UAVs have been positioned as a lower-cost and more eco-friendly alternative to conventional drone materials.
The release follows earlier Chinese research into bamboo-fibre fixed-wing drones, which demonstrated cost reductions of up to 75 percent compared to standard designs. The open-source format is intended to accelerate further development across the UAV sector.
#China
@asianomics
South China Morning Post
China team releases world’s first bamboo drone flight control software – for free
Breakthrough in low-cost, eco-friendly UAVs as researchers unveil open-source software to enhance development.
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🇨🇳 DeepSeek V4 to Run on Huawei Chips
DeepSeek's next-generation model V4 is set to run on Huawei's latest chips, according to five sources cited by US technology publication The Information on Friday. The report marks a notable shift in the hardware supply chain for one of China's most prominent AI developers.
In preparation for the V4 launch, Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent Holdings have each placed large orders for the upcoming Huawei chips, with total order volumes reaching hundreds of thousands of units.
Chinese technology outlet LatePost previously reported that V4 could launch in April 2026, describing it as likely to remain the strongest open-source model available, though not by a dominant margin.
#China
@asianomics
DeepSeek's next-generation model V4 is set to run on Huawei's latest chips, according to five sources cited by US technology publication The Information on Friday. The report marks a notable shift in the hardware supply chain for one of China's most prominent AI developers.
In preparation for the V4 launch, Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent Holdings have each placed large orders for the upcoming Huawei chips, with total order volumes reaching hundreds of thousands of units.
Chinese technology outlet LatePost previously reported that V4 could launch in April 2026, describing it as likely to remain the strongest open-source model available, though not by a dominant margin.
#China
@asianomics
www.zaobao.com.sg
美媒：DeepSeek V4将搭载华为晶片运行
美国媒体称，中国人工智能（AI）企业深度求索（DeepSeek）即将推出的新一代模型V4，将采用科技巨头华为设计的最新晶片。
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🇹🇼🇨🇳 KMT Chair to Visit China, Taiwan Responds
Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun is scheduled to visit the mainland from April 7 to 12, with stops in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Beijing. A meeting between Cheng and Xi Jinping is widely anticipated.
Taiwan's Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated on April 4 that President Lai Ching-te supports cross-strait exchanges conducted on the basis of equal dignity and without political preconditions. Kuo added that any dialogue should aim to reduce regional tension and promote mutual understanding.
The Presidential Office noted that 84% of Taiwan's population favors maintaining the status quo and called on the KMT to expedite review of a defense procurement bill before departing for the mainland. Kuo also stated that China's continued military pressure and diplomatic constraints on Taiwan remain the central factor shaping cross-strait conditions.
#Taiwan #China
@asianomics
Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun is scheduled to visit the mainland from April 7 to 12, with stops in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Beijing. A meeting between Cheng and Xi Jinping is widely anticipated.
Taiwan's Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated on April 4 that President Lai Ching-te supports cross-strait exchanges conducted on the basis of equal dignity and without political preconditions. Kuo added that any dialogue should aim to reduce regional tension and promote mutual understanding.
The Presidential Office noted that 84% of Taiwan's population favors maintaining the status quo and called on the KMT to expedite review of a defense procurement bill before departing for the mainland. Kuo also stated that China's continued military pressure and diplomatic constraints on Taiwan remain the central factor shaping cross-strait conditions.
#Taiwan #China
@asianomics
www.zaobao.com.sg
郑丽文将访陆 台总统府：两岸交流应传递真正台湾民意
台湾在野的国民党主席郑丽文下周将访问中国大陆，台湾总统府称，民众会希望通过交流传递真正的台湾民意，84%的台湾人希望维持现状，并呼吁国民党出发前尽速审查国防条例。
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🇸🇬 Workers' Party Probe Into Singh Concluded
A Workers' Party disciplinary panel has completed its investigation into secretary general Pritam Singh's conduct following his court conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. The panel will present its final report and recommendations to the Central Executive Committee later in April.
A Special Cadre Members' Conference notice is to be issued within two weeks after the report is submitted. The three-member panel, established in January, comprises Sengkang GRC MPs Jamus Lim and He Ting Ru and former Hougang MP Png Eng Huat.
Singh was fined S$14,000 in February 2025 after a court found he had instructed former Workers' Party MP Raeesah Khan to maintain a lie she had told in parliament, rather than advising her to tell the truth as he had claimed before the Committee of Privileges. His conviction was upheld on appeal in December 2025, after which Prime Minister Lawrence Wong removed him as Leader of the Opposition in January.
#Singapore
@asianomics
A Workers' Party disciplinary panel has completed its investigation into secretary general Pritam Singh's conduct following his court conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. The panel will present its final report and recommendations to the Central Executive Committee later in April.
A Special Cadre Members' Conference notice is to be issued within two weeks after the report is submitted. The three-member panel, established in January, comprises Sengkang GRC MPs Jamus Lim and He Ting Ru and former Hougang MP Png Eng Huat.
Singh was fined S$14,000 in February 2025 after a court found he had instructed former Workers' Party MP Raeesah Khan to maintain a lie she had told in parliament, rather than advising her to tell the truth as he had claimed before the Committee of Privileges. His conviction was upheld on appeal in December 2025, after which Prime Minister Lawrence Wong removed him as Leader of the Opposition in January.
#Singapore
@asianomics
South China Morning Post
Singapore’s Workers’ Party finishes probe into chief Pritam Singh’s conduct
The disciplinary panel will present its final report and recommendations to the Central Executive Committee later in April.
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🇯🇵🇨🇳 Embassy Breach Strains Japan-China Relations
A 23-year-old Japan Ground Self-Defense Force lieutenant from the Ebino garrison was arrested on March 24 after climbing into the Chinese Embassy compound in Tokyo. China's Foreign Ministry disclosed the incident the same day, and Beijing subsequently lodged a formal protest demanding prevention of any recurrence.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kishida Minoru described the arrest as deeply regrettable and confirmed that China had raised the matter through diplomatic channels. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force said it would cooperate fully with the police investigation and handle the case strictly once facts were established.
China's Defense Ministry stated the incident reflected the spread of far-right ideology within the Self-Defense Forces. The Global Times warned in an editorial that bilateral relations could deteriorate further if the Japanese government declined to issue a formal apology, a step Japan's foreign ministry official indicated would not be taken before the investigation concludes.
#Japan #China
@asianomics
A 23-year-old Japan Ground Self-Defense Force lieutenant from the Ebino garrison was arrested on March 24 after climbing into the Chinese Embassy compound in Tokyo. China's Foreign Ministry disclosed the incident the same day, and Beijing subsequently lodged a formal protest demanding prevention of any recurrence.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kishida Minoru described the arrest as deeply regrettable and confirmed that China had raised the matter through diplomatic channels. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force said it would cooperate fully with the police investigation and handle the case strictly once facts were established.
China's Defense Ministry stated the incident reflected the spread of far-right ideology within the Self-Defense Forces. The Global Times warned in an editorial that bilateral relations could deteriorate further if the Japanese government declined to issue a formal apology, a step Japan's foreign ministry official indicated would not be taken before the investigation concludes.
#Japan #China
@asianomics
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🇹🇼🇨🇳 KMT Leader to Meet Xi in China
Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun is scheduled to visit China this week and is expected to meet President Xi Jinping, a development that would mark the first meeting between sitting leaders of the two parties in a decade. Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has characterized the visit as an attempt by Beijing to undercut the incumbent administration and weaken its defense cooperation with the United States.
Taiwan's government has separately announced plans to upgrade maritime security measures in the Taiwan Strait, citing risks highlighted by disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. China's Communist Party has not ruled out the use of force in its effort to bring Taiwan under its control.
Also this week, AMRO and the Asian Development Bank are set to release separate economic outlooks for the Asia-Pacific region. India's Reserve Bank of India monetary policy committee concludes its meeting on Wednesday, with most polled economists expecting the key rate to remain unchanged.
#Taiwan #China
@asianomics
Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun is scheduled to visit China this week and is expected to meet President Xi Jinping, a development that would mark the first meeting between sitting leaders of the two parties in a decade. Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has characterized the visit as an attempt by Beijing to undercut the incumbent administration and weaken its defense cooperation with the United States.
Taiwan's government has separately announced plans to upgrade maritime security measures in the Taiwan Strait, citing risks highlighted by disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. China's Communist Party has not ruled out the use of force in its effort to bring Taiwan under its control.
Also this week, AMRO and the Asian Development Bank are set to release separate economic outlooks for the Asia-Pacific region. India's Reserve Bank of India monetary policy committee concludes its meeting on Wednesday, with most polled economists expecting the key rate to remain unchanged.
#Taiwan #China
@asianomics
Nikkei Asia
KMT leader's China visit, key economic outlooks, RBI monetary policy
Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events
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🇮🇷🇵🇰 Iran War Strains South Asia's Fragile Economies
Brent crude has risen more than 50 per cent to over US$100 per barrel since the Iran conflict began on February 28, with spot natural gas prices at multi-year highs as Tehran restricts Gulf fuel flows. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan — all operating under IMF bailout programmes that limit government spending — face compounding pressure from rising energy and food costs with limited fiscal room to respond.
Bangladesh's garment industry has reported widespread mill shutdowns and falling production. Pakistan faces an additional risk of sectarian unrest: its military chief told Shia clerics last month that those who supported Iran should leave, following protests triggered by the US-Israeli killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Gulf remittances, a critical income source for Nepal and Bangladesh, are also declining as hospitality and construction jobs disappear.
India has begun supplying emergency fuel shipments to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with Nepal expected to follow. ANZ Bank warned that higher fertiliser and energy costs could reduce planting areas and depress harvests if prices persist into the summer crop season, adding a food inflation dimension to the existing energy shock.
#Iran #Pakistan #India
@asianomics
Brent crude has risen more than 50 per cent to over US$100 per barrel since the Iran conflict began on February 28, with spot natural gas prices at multi-year highs as Tehran restricts Gulf fuel flows. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan — all operating under IMF bailout programmes that limit government spending — face compounding pressure from rising energy and food costs with limited fiscal room to respond.
Bangladesh's garment industry has reported widespread mill shutdowns and falling production. Pakistan faces an additional risk of sectarian unrest: its military chief told Shia clerics last month that those who supported Iran should leave, following protests triggered by the US-Israeli killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Gulf remittances, a critical income source for Nepal and Bangladesh, are also declining as hospitality and construction jobs disappear.
India has begun supplying emergency fuel shipments to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with Nepal expected to follow. ANZ Bank warned that higher fertiliser and energy costs could reduce planting areas and depress harvests if prices persist into the summer crop season, adding a food inflation dimension to the existing energy shock.
#Iran #Pakistan #India
@asianomics
South China Morning Post
Fuel, food and fury: how the Iran war could topple South Asian governments
Analysts warn the crisis is threatening to spill over into wider economic and political instability.
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🇰🇷 Seoul Asks GCC to Secure Energy Supply Chains
South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol met with ambassadors from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states in Seoul on April 3 to discuss energy supply cooperation amid Middle East tensions. Koo and the ambassadors identified heightened volatility in global oil prices and financial markets as a shared concern, citing potential strain from disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz.
South Korea imports approximately 70 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, with over 95 percent of those shipments transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Koo called on GCC states to ensure uninterrupted deliveries of crude oil and key industrial materials including naphtha and urea.
The South Korean government plans to implement fuel tax cuts, petroleum price stabilization measures, and financing support for affected businesses. A supplementary budget of 26 trillion won ($17 billion) is also planned to limit broader economic fallout.
#SouthKorea
@asianomics
South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol met with ambassadors from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states in Seoul on April 3 to discuss energy supply cooperation amid Middle East tensions. Koo and the ambassadors identified heightened volatility in global oil prices and financial markets as a shared concern, citing potential strain from disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz.
South Korea imports approximately 70 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, with over 95 percent of those shipments transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Koo called on GCC states to ensure uninterrupted deliveries of crude oil and key industrial materials including naphtha and urea.
The South Korean government plans to implement fuel tax cuts, petroleum price stabilization measures, and financing support for affected businesses. A supplementary budget of 26 trillion won ($17 billion) is also planned to limit broader economic fallout.
#SouthKorea
@asianomics
Yonhap News Agency
Finance chief urges GCC nations to bolster supply chain cooperation
SEOUL, April 5 (Yonhap) -- Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol urged Gulf Cooperation Council (...
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🇯🇵 Japan Prefecture Offers Rewards for Reporting Illegal Workers
Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, plans to introduce a reward system in fiscal 2026 paying around 10,000 yen to individuals who report businesses hiring illegal foreign workers. The prefecture recorded the highest number of illegal foreign workers among Japan's 47 prefectures for the fourth consecutive year. Under the scheme, confirmed reports that lead to an arrest would trigger the monetary payment.
Ibaraki Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa has defended the plan, stating that correcting illegal employment is a fundamental responsibility of local government and that the policy is distinct from the exclusion of foreign nationals. He argued that eliminating illegal hiring practices is a prerequisite for foreign workers to participate actively in the community.
The Ibaraki bar association has called for the plan to be dropped immediately, stating it will cause citizens to view foreign workers with suspicion and reinforce prejudice. Civic groups supporting detainees at the Ushiku detention centre and the pro-Seoul Korean Residents Union in Japan have also called for the plan to be retracted.
#Japan
@asianomics
Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, plans to introduce a reward system in fiscal 2026 paying around 10,000 yen to individuals who report businesses hiring illegal foreign workers. The prefecture recorded the highest number of illegal foreign workers among Japan's 47 prefectures for the fourth consecutive year. Under the scheme, confirmed reports that lead to an arrest would trigger the monetary payment.
Ibaraki Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa has defended the plan, stating that correcting illegal employment is a fundamental responsibility of local government and that the policy is distinct from the exclusion of foreign nationals. He argued that eliminating illegal hiring practices is a prerequisite for foreign workers to participate actively in the community.
The Ibaraki bar association has called for the plan to be dropped immediately, stating it will cause citizens to view foreign workers with suspicion and reinforce prejudice. Civic groups supporting detainees at the Ushiku detention centre and the pro-Seoul Korean Residents Union in Japan have also called for the plan to be retracted.
#Japan
@asianomics
The Straits Times
Rewards for reporting illegal foreign workers in Japan spark controversy
The prefecture's governor said the policy is not meant to eliminate foreign workers. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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🇯🇵 Japan Cabinet Rating Holds at 63% Amid Oil Concerns
A Kyodo News poll conducted April 4–5 shows approval for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet at 63.8 percent, down 0.3 percentage points from March. The disapproval rate rose 2.0 points to 26.0 percent.
Nearly half of respondents — 49.3 percent — say Takaichi's response to oil supply disruptions stemming from the Iran war is insufficient, against 41.4 percent who consider it sufficient. Some 89.5 percent reported concern over the conflict's impact on daily life, and 69.6 percent want the government to continue gasoline price subsidies.
On the question of constitutional revision, 30.0 percent support amending the constitution to allow Self-Defense Forces deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, while 64.4 percent oppose such a change.
#Japan
@asianomics
A Kyodo News poll conducted April 4–5 shows approval for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet at 63.8 percent, down 0.3 percentage points from March. The disapproval rate rose 2.0 points to 26.0 percent.
Nearly half of respondents — 49.3 percent — say Takaichi's response to oil supply disruptions stemming from the Iran war is insufficient, against 41.4 percent who consider it sufficient. Some 89.5 percent reported concern over the conflict's impact on daily life, and 69.6 percent want the government to continue gasoline price subsidies.
On the question of constitutional revision, 30.0 percent support amending the constitution to allow Self-Defense Forces deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, while 64.4 percent oppose such a change.
#Japan
@asianomics
Japan Wire by Kyodo News
Support rate for Japan PM's Cabinet falls 0.3 point to 63.8%: Kyodo poll
The approval rate for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet has fallen 0.3 percentage point from the previous survey in March to 63.8 percent, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday.
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🇯🇵 Poll: Half Fault Takaichi on Oil Shortage
A Kyodo News opinion poll found that 49% of respondents considered Prime Minister Takaichi's response to Japan's oil supply shortage insufficient. The survey was published on April 5, 2026.
A separate Kyodo poll released the same day put cabinet support at 63.8%, a drop of 0.3 percentage points from the previous survey.
The two results place Takaichi's government under public scrutiny on both its energy handling and its overall approval standing.
A Kyodo News opinion poll found that 49% of respondents considered Prime Minister Takaichi's response to Japan's oil supply shortage insufficient. The survey was published on April 5, 2026.
A separate Kyodo poll released the same day put cabinet support at 63.8%, a drop of 0.3 percentage points from the previous survey.
The two results place Takaichi's government under public scrutiny on both its energy handling and its overall approval standing.
Japan Wire by Kyodo News
BREAKING NEWS: 49% say PM Takaichi's response to oil supply shortage not sufficient: poll
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🇫🇷🇰🇷 Renault Targets Korean EV Expansion by 2030
Renault Group Chairman Francois Provost stated in Seoul that the company intends to expand its lineup and increase market share in South Korea as part of its broader Future Ready strategy, which targets global sales of at least 2 million vehicles by 2030. Renault Korea Motors is designated as a key manufacturing base for both domestic supply and exports.
The company's Busan plant serves as a production hub for D- and E-segment vehicles and all-electric models. Renault Korea is reviewing the timeline for upgrading the facility to support EV production, with electrified vehicles set to account for all new models by 2030 — pure EVs comprising 50 percent of annual output and hybrids the remainder.
To offer competitively priced EVs in South Korea, Renault plans to partner with LG Energy Solution and POSCO. Renault Korea posted a sales decline of 8.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, totaling 16,620 units, attributed to weak domestic demand.
#SouthKorea #France
@asianomics
Renault Group Chairman Francois Provost stated in Seoul that the company intends to expand its lineup and increase market share in South Korea as part of its broader Future Ready strategy, which targets global sales of at least 2 million vehicles by 2030. Renault Korea Motors is designated as a key manufacturing base for both domestic supply and exports.
The company's Busan plant serves as a production hub for D- and E-segment vehicles and all-electric models. Renault Korea is reviewing the timeline for upgrading the facility to support EV production, with electrified vehicles set to account for all new models by 2030 — pure EVs comprising 50 percent of annual output and hybrids the remainder.
To offer competitively priced EVs in South Korea, Renault plans to partner with LG Energy Solution and POSCO. Renault Korea posted a sales decline of 8.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, totaling 16,620 units, attributed to weak domestic demand.
#SouthKorea #France
@asianomics
Yonhap News Agency
Renault eyes lineup expansion, bigger market share in S. Korea
SEOUL, April 5 (Yonhap) -- Renault Group aims to expand its lineup, increase market share ...
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🇨🇳 China's Ageing Population Drives Care Sector Growth
China had 320 million people aged 60 and above at the end of last year, representing 23 per cent of the total population. A United Nations estimate projects the country will become a super-aged society by the early 2030s, when those aged 65 and above will exceed 20 per cent of the population.
According to Alibaba platform data, sales of AI companion robots jumped 200 per cent year on year in the first eight months of last year, while smart wristbands with age-friendly functions surged more than 200 per cent over the same period. Supply of senior-friendly bathing products rose more than 90 per cent in the first two months of this year, with senior-friendly furniture supply tripling.
Growth in expenditure at China's national basic medical insurance fund slowed to 0.8 per cent year on year in 2025, down from 5.6 per cent in 2024. Citi Research identified this funding gap as the primary market opportunity for commercial insurers, expecting them to expand through long-term care insurance and health management services.
#China
@asianomics
China had 320 million people aged 60 and above at the end of last year, representing 23 per cent of the total population. A United Nations estimate projects the country will become a super-aged society by the early 2030s, when those aged 65 and above will exceed 20 per cent of the population.
According to Alibaba platform data, sales of AI companion robots jumped 200 per cent year on year in the first eight months of last year, while smart wristbands with age-friendly functions surged more than 200 per cent over the same period. Supply of senior-friendly bathing products rose more than 90 per cent in the first two months of this year, with senior-friendly furniture supply tripling.
Growth in expenditure at China's national basic medical insurance fund slowed to 0.8 per cent year on year in 2025, down from 5.6 per cent in 2024. Citi Research identified this funding gap as the primary market opportunity for commercial insurers, expecting them to expand through long-term care insurance and health management services.
#China
@asianomics
South China Morning Post
Demographic shift fuels growth in China’s elderly care, insurance sectors
Powered by AI, the silver economy is driving product innovation and unlocking substantial new consumption growth.
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