About Asia

Finbarr Bermingham speaks with political economy editors John Carter and Zhou Xin about the worst economic data for China since 1976, what it means for the broader economy and why the concept of 'revenge spending' promoted on Chinese social media is at best a mirage. Economist Carlos Casanova looks into the details underlying China's GDP figures and parses the details on potential good news as well as the more worrying trends of business bankruptcies in mainland China and what that portends for…

Wuhan re-opens the same day the crucial Canton Trade Fair is cancelled. China is facing a critical moment, with the central government pivoting away from exports as a source of economic growth. Finbarr Bermingham and the team analyse the ongoing challenges China faces. Our feature interview is with Professor Heiwai Tang, from the University of Hong Kong, who lays out how the pandemic looks set to wipe out small business in favour of corporations.

What are the politics behind Xi Jinping's Zhejiang visit? What does Donald Trump need in November for his election victory? Hear about the crucial economic movements influencing the US and China's response to the pandemic. Political economy editors Zhou Xin and John Carter look at the data and the detail of China's economy. Our guest is Frank Lavin, a veteran diplomat and former White House official, talking about China's global leadership role and how the US economy is changing with the…

In a week when the economic impact of coronavirus on the global economy was made clear, political economy editors John Carter and Zhou Xin join Finbarr Bermingham to discuss China's "wolf warrior" diplomats, the second wave demand shock to hit China's economy and why, when the rest of the world is firing financial bazookas, China is keeping its powder dry.Trade expert and SCMP columnist David Dodwell then gets his crystal ball out to try and envisage the post-coronavirus global supply chain…

As the crisis escalates through the global economy, a new issue threatens to make things worse: the US and China trading insults over whose fault it is. Political economy editor John Carter analyses the latest industry and economic news, its comparison to the Global Financial Crisis and why the world desperately needs the US and China to work together. Natixis chief economist for the Asia Pacific region, Alicia Garrero-Herrero unpacks the deals and data of this topsy-turvy week and delivers a…

Finbarr Bermingham speaks with Zhou Xin and John Carter about the impact of coronavirus on US demand for Chinese goods and how that will affect China's economy. They also discuss the virus' blame game, as figures in both the US and China try to scapegoat the other for the pandemic, and the psychological importance of the returning Canton Fair. Su-Lin Tan joins Finbarr to discuss what China's massive increase in mask production means for global supply chains and whether it could be indicative of…

The coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on China's economy. Political economy editors John Carter and Zhou Xin analyse the numbers and the damage done to the Chinese economy. Simone McCarthy on how the drug supply chain is being hit by the virus, as well as the suggestion that China could weaponise medicine supplies as part of its trade negotiations with the US. Former US Consul General of Shanghai, Kenneth Jarrett, joins on the line to discuss whether the coronavirus will hit China's chances…

Finbarr Bermingham talks to political economy editors Zhou Xin and John Carter about China's challenges in getting back to work, including the ongoing labour shortage, and a burgeoning agricultural crisis; Natixis senior economist Trinh Nguyen (of @trinhnomics fame) on how the labour shortage is killing Chinese manufacturing as big companies splash the cash, and how companies fleeing the trade war to Vietnam are learning there is no such thing as a clean break from China.

Finbarr Bermingham and the SCMP team unpack how the US and Europe are responding to the disruption to China's economy as a result of the coronavirus. Political economy desk editor Zhou Xin analyses the ongoing impact on the Chinese economy and the possibility of Beijing invoking the force majeure clause on the US-China trade deal; Washington bureau chief Rob Delaney details the US Senators hoping to further push their agenda for economic decoupling amidst the background of criticism of Huawei;…

Finbarr Bermingham talks to political economy editor Zhou Xin about how China is coping with its obligations to the phase one trade deal with the US as it battles the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. Renaud Anjoran, CEO of China manufacturing consultancy Sofeast Ltd analyses the crisis of staffing in China's manufacturing plants and the shockwaves being witnessed in global trade.