CHINA: Huarong and Evergrande show Beijing’s pragmatic approach to moral hazard
A group of state-owned financial institutions will recapitalize Huarong, the state-owned financial conglomerate that fell into distress after the ex- chairman was convicted of bribery and later executed. Though Huarong’s exchange filing did not reveal details of the state bailout… Become a member to read the rest of this article Username or E-mail Password […]
JAPAN: Suga fights to win, as Kishida challenges and Kono ponders
With the pandemic reaching new levels of intensity, struggling Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will fight for his position as head of his party and the government. Fumio Kishida is the most significant challenger to declare to date, while the popular Taro Kono has yet to ind… Become a member to read the rest of […]
PHILIPPINES: Duterte for VP next year is all sound and fury
On Tuesday, 24 August, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is accepting the endorsement of his party, PDP-Laban, for him to run for the vice-presidency in the 9 May 2022 elections. In justifying his unconventional decision, Duterte said he wanted to “continue the crusade” agai… Become a member to read the rest of this […]
MALAYSIA: Is five decades of politics over?
The political dynamics that had kept Malaysian politics stable since the 1970s have been unravelling gradually over the past decade. The return of a United Malays National Organization (UMNO) politician to the prime ministership is not an automatic signal that the trend is… Become a member to read the rest of this article
INDIA: Monetizing infrastructure – the devil is in the detail
The government has announced a massive plan for infrastructure development but will retain ownership of assets. State governments need to buy in for success. If it works, it can recover lost political ground for the Modi government. Even as India wrestles with a fear… Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHINA: “Common prosperity” agenda shifts focus to income redistribution
Top Communist Party leaders called for new policies to promote income redistribution, signaling a new focus for the Communist Party’s broader “common prosperity” agenda. Policymakers have made similar pledges before, but the latest call came from a high-level party organ d… Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: Yokohama loss narrows path forward for Suga, with no good options left
The defeat of the candidate he endorsed in the 22 August Yokohama mayoral election has further damaged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s hopes of retaining power in two forthcoming elections, and calls into question casino resort proposals in that city. The nature of the def… Become a member to read the rest of this article
THAILAND: A more confrontational protest movement
Anti-government rallies that were a fixture in the fourth quarter of 2020 have returned to Bangkok’s streets. However, there are noticeable differences from the earlier protests, which could be signaling an added set of risks for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. For instance,… Become a member to read the rest of this article
CHINA: Political commitment to reducing carbon emissions appears strong
President Xi Jinping unveiled his ambitious 2030 and 2060 climate pledges last year before China’s bureaucracy had developed a policy roadmap for achieving them. But a series of policy announcements in recent weeks suggests the pledges are not empty, and the Communist Part… Become a member to read the rest of this article
JAPAN: Challenges pour down for Suga as elections approach, contenders emerge
Surging Covid-19 cases are putting increasing pressure on both the medical system and the government, as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga struggles to contain a fourth wave ahead of three elections that will determine his political fate. Record rains throughout the peak Obon … Become a member to read the rest of this article