8 h. ago Old but still gold? What Philippines can gain from Japan’s used warships

Japan’s unprecedented proposal to transfer six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippine Navy could greatly boost the Southeast Asian nation’s anti-submarine capabilities – but the true value of these ageing vessels remains to be seen. The Philippines has confirmed it is preparing to dispatch a team to Japan for a visual inspection of the six warships, which were set to be decommissioned, following an official invitation from Japan’s Ministry of Defence. “This planned inspection forms...

Events

10 h. ago Japan dives deep in race for rare earths, stirring a green backlash

Japan’s quest for rare earths is about to plunge to unprecedented depths in what could be the most extreme trial extraction ever attempted, accelerating a push to lessen its reliance on overseas suppliers – but at what environmental cost? The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology plans to deploy a deep-sea drilling vessel to a site around 100km (54 nautical miles) from Minamitorishima, according to a report in the Nikkei newspaper dated July 1. The remote atoll is some 1,850km...

Sport

18 h. ago In global survey, US cited more often than China as greatest ally and threat

A new survey of citizens in 25 middle- and high-income countries has found that the US is more likely than China to be seen as their most important ally – and their greatest threat. In the survey it released on Tuesday, the Pew Research Centre polled nearly 40,000 adults from the world’s six populated continents – including those in the US and the four Asian nations of India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea – between January 8 and April 26. Respondents were not given a list of countries from...

Events

20 h. ago Trump tariffs live updates: China sends new trade warning after Trump letters to Japan, South Korea, others

Trump tariffs live updates: China sends new trade warning after Trump letters to Japan, South Korea, others  Yahoo Finance

Events

21 h. ago East Asia faces fresh US tariffs, China rare earth curbs: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Apparently impatient Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea US President Donald Trump, apparently impatient with the slow progress of negotiations, on Monday slapped 25 per cent unilateral tariffs on Japan and South Korea and equal or higher import taxes on several other nations ahead of a self-imposed Wednesday deadline. 2. Rare earth dominance: why...

Politics

24 h. ago More uncertainty ahead for Asia as Trump shifts goalposts on tariffs again

Asia could face a prolonged period of trade uncertainty after US President Donald Trump extended the deadline for imposing higher import tariffs to August 1. Trump told trade partners on Monday that the new deadline was final, though he might grant further extensions if countries submitted acceptable proposals. He also confirmed plans to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Japan and South Korea in letters posted on his social media platform, warning: “If for any reason you decide to...

Politics

24 h. ago Need a grandma? In Japan, you can rent one and help an old lady out

“Grandma rental” services have caught on in Japan, providing an alternative source of income for the country’s ageing population seeking to alleviate the cost of living pressures amid rising inflation. For 3,000 yen (US$20) per hour, clients are set up with a woman aged 60 to 94 who will help with requests ranging from teaching cooking skills to breaking up with partners on her client’s behalf, according to local news site SoraNews24. The elderly women can also babysit and mediate family...

Politics

25 h. ago How China, Japan and South Korea can be titans of tech innovation

Just ahead of the July 9 deadline to reach an agreement on tariffs, US President Donald Trump announced his decision on the tariffs levels for 14 countries – including a rate of 25 per cent on Japan and South Korea – effective August 1. Trump accused Japan of not buying enough rice and cars from the US. It’s worth noting that the American car industry is simply not competitive in Japan. Germany, Japan and China are the top three auto exporters. Those countries, along with South Korea, have...

Politics

25 h. ago Opinion | How China, Japan and South Korea can be titans of tech innovation

Opinion | How China, Japan and South Korea can be titans of tech innovation  South China Morning Post

Politics

25 h. ago Why East Asian integration could be the solution to US tariff threats

Just ahead of the July 9 deadline to reach an agreement on tariffs, US President Donald Trump announced his decision on the tariffs levels for 14 countries – including a rate of 25 per cent on Japan and South Korea – effective August 1. Trump accused Japan of not buying enough rice and cars from the US. It’s worth noting that the American car industry is simply not competitive in Japan. Germany, Japan and China are the top three auto exporters. Those countries, along with South Korea, have...

Events

27 h. ago Malaysia’s Rosmah wins US$23,600 damages over black magic claims by TikTokker

Former Malaysian first lady Rosmah Mansor has won 100,000 ringgit (US$23,600) in damages in a defamation case against a TikTokker who uploaded a video claiming that she had dabbled in black magic. The Kuala Lumpur High Court said on Tuesday that Rosmah had proven her claim against 35-year-old Ku Muhammad Hilmie Ku Din. “This global award comprises general and aggravated damages,” Justice Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh said during the damages assessment hearing, according to a report by local daily...

Events

27 h. ago ‘Truly regrettable’: Trump slaps 25% tariffs on South Korea and Japan. What now?

US President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of 25 per cent tariffs on imports from key trade partners including South Korea and Japan has been viewed less as a final blow and more as a high-stakes bargaining tactic. The move highlights Trump’s preference for brinkmanship-style deal-making and leaves room for diplomacy, as Seoul races to craft its response ahead of the new August 1 deadline, according to analysts. South Korea’s presidential office convened an emergency meeting of cabinet...

Politics

34 h. ago With US tariffs looming, China’s panda diplomacy returns as Japan seeks new loan

Panda diplomacy is back in play as Japan seeks to charm visiting Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng with hopes of securing one or two of the endangered bears on loan. The gesture could help soothe bilateral ties and signal regional unity amid growing unease over US trade policy under President Donald Trump, analysts have said. He, a close adviser to President Xi Jinping, is scheduled to attend the World Expo in Osaka for “national pavilion day” at the Chinese pavilion on Friday. The Yomiuri...

Politics

35 h. ago Apparently impatient Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea

US President Donald Trump, apparently impatient with the slow progress of negotiations, on Monday slapped 25 per cent unilateral tariffs on Japan and South Korea and equal or higher import taxes on several other nations ahead of a self-imposed Wednesday deadline. Analysts said the move shows that the mercurial American leader is using threats to jump-start negotiations. Trump sent two-page letters to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung saying the new...

Politics

36 h. ago Trump tariffs live updates: Trump sets August tariff rates on Japan, South Korea, and more in 14

Trump tariffs live updates: Trump sets August tariff rates on Japan, South Korea, and more in 14-letter spree  Yahoo Finance

Politics

36 h. ago To quieten drumbeats of war in US and China, cool heads must prevail

While the Ukraine war drags on and new conflicts rage in the Middle East, we cannot overlook the drumbeats of great power tension across the Pacific at levels unmatched since the Cold War. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, a known China hawk, frames diplomacy through strategic confrontation. He has said the United States aims to “re-establish deterrence” against “China’s aggression” in the Indo-Pacific. This includes upgrading the US-Japan command to a “warfighting headquarters” and pushing...

Events

39 h. ago Trump tariffs live updates: Trump tells Japan, South Korea he's imposing 25% tariffs, beginning letter barrage

Trump tariffs live updates: Trump tells Japan, South Korea he's imposing 25% tariffs, beginning letter barrage  Yahoo Finance

Politics

40 h. ago Trump tariffs live updates: Trump tells Japan, South Korea leaders he's imposing 25% tariffs as letters begin

Trump tariffs live updates: Trump tells Japan, South Korea leaders he's imposing 25% tariffs as letters begin  Yahoo Finance

Politics

43 h. ago Surge in Hongkongers visiting Japan expected after manga ‘megaquake’ fears fade

Hongkongers’ enthusiasm for visiting Japan is expected to rebound “explosively” in the coming days and months after fears of a “megaquake” predicted in a manga proved unfounded, an industry leader has said. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said on Monday that rumours of a July 5 earthquake had earlier caused significant concern among some Hongkongers. Many residents had shelved trips to Japan, leading to a sharp decline in tour group bookings. He said his agency normally...

Politics

46 h. ago All eyes on Beijing as Taiwan set to attend Japan’s WWII memorials in a first

Taiwan is set to join Japan’s memorial ceremonies next month for the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, marking the island’s first-ever participation in the annual events. Observers said Beijing was likely to take a dim view of the matter, though the scale of its response might depend on the rank of the Taiwanese attendees. Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki said on Saturday that the city had accepted Taiwan’s request to attend the August 9 ceremony in memory of the victims...

Events