Banyan

Our columnist offers perspective on Asian politics, economics, and culture


Asia

Who will become Japan’s next prime minister?

The three leading candidates offer very different visions

Asia

The private sector won’t save America’s Indo-Pacific policy

More needs to be done to repair the economic relationship with South-East Asia

Asia

Youngsters are fleeing Japan’s once-mighty civil service

Why would anyone sane and talented work for it?

Asia

Welcome to India, where the streets have four names

Constantly renaming cities, roads and stations is pointless and counterproductive

Asia

Why does the West back the wrong Asian leaders?

The supposed bastions of liberalism need to fix their picker

Asia

If a China and America war went nuclear, who would win?

After 45 days of conventional fighting nukes would be tempting, wargamers suggest

Asia

Taiwan braces for America’s election

For the opposition, a possible Trump victory is another reason to talk to China

Asia

India cannot fix its problems if it pretends they do not exist

The government’s response to bad news is to stick its fingers in its ears

Asia

How Asia’s wild west shakes up the modern world

James C. Scott, an anthropologist, shed light on an ungovernable region

Asia

Sheikh Hasina faces her biggest crisis in years

Bangladesh’s prime minister shuts down the country

Asia

Indians have grown used to getting nice things from politicians

It’s no longer enough to win votes

Asia

Ancient artistic loot will finally make its way back to Cambodia

On July 3rd the Metropolitan Museum in New York will return artefacts to the country

Asia

The army-backed establishment in Thailand goes after its enemies

Thaksin Shinawatra’s case is just one of many

Asia

Why caste still matters in Indian politics

Narendra Modi must rethink his approach to Hinduism’s social hierarchy

Asia

How the Philippines is turning the water-cannon on China

Ferdinand Marcos’s flip is a huge gift to America. But dangers lie ahead

Next