Today
Masayoshi Son’s $US500m bet on OpenAI deja vu for Softbank
The investment marks one of the largest by SoftBank this year and signals a return to the big-cheque power moves by one of Japan’s most recognised businessmen.
- 1 hr ago
- Jessica Sier
This Month
- Opinion
- World politics
Japan’s incoming PM has barely the concept of a plan
Faced with the option of a successor to Shinzo Abe or his polar opposite, Japan’s ruling party has broken with more than a decade of orthodoxy.
- Gearoid Reidy
September
- Analysis
- Manufacturing
Are Chinese cars spying on you?
Security experts say there is a genuine growing fear that the West is becoming exposed to Chinese components under the hood as vehicles become more connected.
- James Titcomb
Ozempic alternatives flood the Australian market
The number of Australians taking weight-loss drugs is growing as new medicines hit the market. MPs warn the influx must be managed carefully.
- Michael Smith
‘Asian NATO’ backer to become Japan’s new PM
The country’s ruling party picked former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba as leader, setting him up to become prime minister, a move that risks irritating China.
- Alastair Gale and Yuki Hagiwara
- Analysis
- Inside China
China’s stimulus no bazooka, but urgency has arrived
China’s efforts to stimulate its economy this week were welcomed and the fight against a slowing economy appears to be on.
- Jessica Sier
- Updated
- Australian economy
China’s stimulus blitz ‘very very good’ for Australia: Chalmers
The treasurer, who is on a visit to Beijing, says iron ore exporters will remain under pressure amid slowing housing and infrastructure projects in China.
- Updated
- Jessica Sier
China’s newest nuclear sub sinks in blow to modernisation
China’s newest nuclear attack submarine has sunk in a shipyard accident, in a setback to the country’s attempts to overtake the US in a naval arms race.
- Idrees Ali
BYD distributor insists no ‘kill switch’ inside its car software
The Australian face of China’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer said it cannot remotely control any EVs sold here, after the US sought a ban linked to spy fears.
- Jessica Sier
- Analysis
- Electric vehicles
I drove the ute that could ruin weekends. Here’s what happened
Electric vehicles have a veneer of delicacy; an assumption the BYD team is keen to dismiss with the new Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute.
- Jessica Sier
- Exclusive
- Asia-Pacific
Japan’s new ambassador has high hopes for closer ties
In an interview, Kazuhiro Suzuki says the two countries are “indispensable” to achieving peace and prosperity in a region where the shadow of China looms large.
- James Curran
China tests ballistic missile in Pacific in ‘provocative’ move
China fired an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean, its first such major missile launch in years.
- Alistair Gale
The travel bloggers ‘sugarcoating’ China’s Uyghur problem
Some influencers claim to be exposing Western media lies about Xinjiang, saying they have not seen human rights abuses taking place.
- Nicola Smith
China unleashes stimulus blitz to hit annual growth goal
The central bank announced a cut to the amount of money banks must hold in reserve, taking it to the lowest level since at least 2020. It also cut a key policy rate.
- Updated
- Wenjin Lv and Alan Wong
BYD shrugs off planned US ban of Chinese smart car software
Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD’s auto sales division for Asia-Pacific, said the Chinese EV giant had turned its attention to markets with receptive EV policies.
- Updated
- Jessica Sier
- Opinion
- Inside China
Why it’s dangerous to be super rich in China
The number of billionaires has fallen 35 per cent in China, and corporate leaders may be devaluing their wealth, amid fears the state is targeting the rich.
- Ruchir Sharma
China stimulus hopes rise as PBoC cuts rate, flags briefing
The People’s Bank of China lowered the 14-day reverse repurchase rate, catching up with reductions initiated in July, and flagged further moves on Tuesday.
- Wenjin Lv
- Opinion
- East Asia Forum
China’s had deflation before. This is what it needs to do this time
Balance sheet issues were central to the contraction in previous deflationary episodes, and the resolution of these was key. Policymakers should focus on that.
- Updated
- Huw McKay
- Opinion
- North Korea diplomacy
Why it’s dangerous to ignore Kim Jong-un
As he watches the Americans spew vitriol at one another in the coming months, North Korea’s leader could decide that the US is distracted, and set his peninsula on fire.
- Andreas Kluth
- Opinion
- Inside China
China’s best growth target may be none at all
A move to tone down the country’s emphasis on its 5 per cent annual GDP increase target would have to come from the very top.
- Daniel Moss