The friendship bridge spanning the Tiau River serves as an important commercial lifeline between the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram and western Myanmar's Chin state. 
Tea Leaves

Thai border town offers geopolitical lesson for India

Bangkok's discreet yet pragmatic stance on Myanmar refugees works better than India's hostility

21 August 2024
Myanmar consumers are struggling to access daily necessities like rice and palm oil. (Photo by Nikkei)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's growing price controls deepen economic woes

Response to inflation and weakening kyat backfires as private sector pulls back

20 August 2024
Monks collect alms from a fighter in the anti-regime People's Defense Force in Tagu, a town in southern Myanmar's Tanintharyi Region. (All photos by Valeria Mongelli)
Life

Life in Myanmar's resistance-held areas

Snapshot of Tanintharyi shows how the fragile parallel administration is taking control in strongholds

18 August 2024
Supporters of the Myanmar military take part in January 2021 demonstration in Yangon. The military has been in control of the government since February 2021.
Myanmar Crisis

U.S. meets Myanmar opposition, pledges expanded support

Virtual talks come after China urges ASEAN countries to help with peace process

17 August 2024
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, meets with Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Aug. 14.
Myanmar Crisis

China's Wang Yi urges war-torn Myanmar to seek 'political reconciliation'

Top envoy meets regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, calls for 'resuming democratic transition'

15 August 2024
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to hold talks with Myanmar's military regime officials on Wednesday. 
International relations

China's top envoy to meet military regime officials in Myanmar

Wang Yi's trip to region comes as wary Beijing pushes Naypyitaw to restore stability

14 August 2024
The employee of Japanese retail chain Aeon was released immediately after sentencing. (Nikkei)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's release of Aeon exec signals struggle to retain investment

Military government wants to appear tough on inflation while propping up economy

14 August 2024
A shopper walks down an aisle at an Aeon Orange supermarket in Yangon.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar releases detained Japanese executive after sentencing

Military neither explains decision nor gives Hiroshi Kasamatsu's whereabouts

13 August 2024
An Aug. 5 speech by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's military ruler, was released with Chinese subtitles. (Screenshot of video by Myanmar's military)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's ethnic armed groups widen grip, threatening stability

Ethnic Chinese forces capture key base as persecution of Rohingya continues

13 August 2024
Hiroshi Kasamatsu was in charge of price setting at local venture Aeon Orange before he was detained. (Photo by Sadachika Watanabe)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar sentences Aeon executive to 1 year in prison: source

Tokyo seeks release of Japan retailer employee charged with rice pricing violation

12 August 2024
Groups of Rohingya cross the Naf River near Palong Khali, Bangladesh, in 2017.
Myanmar Crisis

Mass civilian casualties trigger accusations in Myanmar's Rakhine state

At least 150 Rohingya may have been killed in artillery and drone attack

11 August 2024
Myanmar traditional restaurant chain Khaing Khaing Kyaw first expanded business operations into the Thai market in November 2023 and has since opened a second branch in Bangkok in March this year. (Photo by Htet Phyoe)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar businesses flood Thailand to follow fleeing customer base

Growing number of restaurants, shops in Bangkok reflect population exodus from war-torn state

9 August 2024
The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. The luxury group has struggled to maintain earnings momentum. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

Peninsula Hotels operator slips back to net loss, hit by 'weak' Hong Kong

Reported detention of Myanmar partner 'nothing to do with' Yangon hotel, exiting CEO Kwok says

7 August 2024
Army soldiers and police officers patrol in Lashio, Myanmar, in May 2013. The city, which is near the border with China, is one of the most important in northern Shan State for the Myanmar military.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar extends state of emergency by 6 months as fighting intensifies

Economic turmoil, combat with ethnic rebels cast shadow over plans for 2025 election

1 August 2024
Myanmar's military regime of Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing appears to be on the defensive in Rakhine state. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and AFP/Jiji)
Myanmar Crisis

Arakan Army pushes Myanmar's military to brink in monsoon war

Rebel group says it looks to 'eradicate all' regime's forces from Rakhine state

31 July 2024
United Wa State Army (UWSA) soldiers march during a ceremony in Myanmar's Shan state in 2019. The group is a key player in the region bordering China.
Myanmar Crisis

China and neighbors pressure Myanmar as regime reels from battle losses

Resistance gains, deteriorating security prompt concerned countries to recalibrate

30 July 2024
Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin explains about digital wallet program in Bankok on Nov. 10. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Your Week in Asia

Quad FM meeting, BOJ monetary policy, digital wallet stimulus in Thailand

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

28 July 2024
Foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries pose for a photo on the day of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane on July 25.
International relations

ASEAN ministers at loggerheads over Israel-Hamas conflict

Malaysia pushes line condemning violence, as Singapore, Thailand cause 'some discord'

27 July 2024
A soldier from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on guard at a rebel military base in the Kokang region. (REUTERS/Stringer)
Myanmar Crisis

Major Myanmar regional military HQ captured, rebels say

Loss of Lashio northeast of Mandalay in northern Shan State a serious loss

25 July 2024
ASEAN officials attend a retreat session at the 57th ASEAN foreign ministers meeting at the National Convention Centre, in Vientiane on July 25.
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN members at odds over how to resolve Myanmar crisis

Myanmar 'hopeful' about resuming relations with bloc

25 July 2024
ASEAN's headquarters in Jakarta. This year's meetings of foreign ministers take place at a critical juncture as unrest in Myanmar threatens the bloc's unity and tensions in the South China Sea rise. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN ministers seek Myanmar breakthrough with 'troika' model

Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia to hold 'informal consultation' as regional talks begin

24 July 2024
Meth seizures in Thailand like this one have become commonplace as more drugs from Myanmar flow into and through the country.
Crime

Myanmar crisis pushes Asian meth seizures to new highs

Flow of drugs increases as armed rebels use sales to fund war efforts

23 July 2024
Myanmar has faced economic turmoil since the military takeover in February 2021 and subsequent civil unrest. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's corporate crackdown grows beyond Japan retailer Aeon

Inflation and capital outflows push regime to tighten grip on economy

18 July 2024
Japanese auto parts maker Yazaki has found a way to maintain profitable operations at its plant in Myanmar. (Yazaki)
Myanmar Crisis

From auto sector to startups, Japan companies see green shoots in Myanmar

Abundance of unemployed engineers makes country attractive despite tensions

16 July 2024