Asia Specific

The worldwide counterfeit and pirated goods industry is estimated to be worth almost half-a-trillion US dollars, and Vietnam is one of the most significant players in the illicit trade.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: [email protected]

China is famous for making products the world wants to buy, but inside the country, consumers are spending far less than the government would like.

A property slump, high youth unemployment and weak confidence have left many households choosing to save instead of spend, making it harder for China to shift its economy away from relying on exports.

The Chinese government has introduced a range of measures to encourage spending, from consumer subsidies to a new five-year consumption plan.

But why haven't these policies delivered the results Beijing hoped for? And is China's low consumer spending simply a temporary problem, or a sign of deeper structural issues?

In this episode, host Mariko Oi speaks to Bloomberg Opinion columnist Juliana Liu and Asia Pacific economist Max Zenglein from The Conference Board about why Chinese households save so much, whether Beijing's latest policies can work and why China's spending habits matter not only for its own economy but also for the rest of the world.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: [email protected]

For the first time in 20 years, a major global survey conducted between February and May of 2026 has found that more countries favour China over the US.

The shift comes as President Donald Trump's foreign and economic policies have upended the global order. China has spent years working to build a more favourable reputation abroad, drawing accusations of state-sponsored propaganda campaigns, something Beijing has denied.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to Tessa Wong, BBC's Asia reporter, and Bill Birtles, editor of the podcast, unpacking this latest chapter in a decades-long contest for global influence between the world's two superpowers.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: [email protected]

Humanoid robots are suddenly everywhere - dancing, boxing, running marathons and even attempting surgery. China is leading the charge, producing the vast majority of the world's humanoid robots.

But beyond the viral videos, are these machines actually useful?

Why has China emerged as the global leader in robot manufacturing? How is AI transforming what robots can do? And can countries like the US, Japan, and Germany keep pace?

In this episode, host Mariko Oi speaks to BBC Beijing correspondent Stephen McDonell and BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy about whether humanoid robots are finally becoming practical.

From robot butlers and factory workers to surgeons and carers, we explore how close we really are to living alongside humanoid robots and whether today's machines are groundbreaking technology or simply impressive demonstrations.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: [email protected]

Multiple families in Singapore are facing an unimaginable possibility that the children they legally adopted from Indonesia may have been victims of an alleged baby trafficking network.

A major trial is underway in Indonesia involving 19 defendants accused of buying babies, forging documents, and arranging adoptions of the children, including at least 12 babies who were brought to Singapore. The defendants deny the allegations.

The case has raised difficult questions about international adoption, how trafficking networks operate and why vulnerable parents give up their babies.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to BBC journalists Tessa Wong in Singapore and Astudestra Ajengrastri in Jakarta about the ongoing trial, the families caught up in the case, and what could happen to the children.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: [email protected]

On July 2, separatist rebels released a video saying that they had shot dead a US pilot and set his plane on fire in Indonesia's far eastern Papua region.

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) said they killed 29-year-old Nicholas F Gosselin after he landed in the Highland Papua province, and claimed that the pilot had been transporting Indonesian troops into the region.

Indonesia’s military rejects those claims, saying the passengers were indigenous Papuans.

Indonesian officials confirmed that Gosselin's plane had been found burnt, but said it was unclear what happened to him or his seven passengers on board.

This is the latest in a string of events spanning decades in the resource-rich region over which the Indonesian government and West Papua’s indigenous people are fighting.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi unpacks the years of conflict in the contested area with two journalists who have been covering West Papua: Johnny Blades from Radio New Zealand and Abraham Utama from the BBC’s Indonesian language service.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: [email protected]

The Japanese imperial family is running out of members — with only 16 royals remaining, questions are growing about the future of the world's oldest hereditary monarchy. So what is the Japanese government's plan to safeguard the imperial line, and why is it proving so controversial?

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

The murder of a 17-year-old girl in the coastal city of Pattaya, allegedly by a 45-year-old Australian man has sparked a discussion about whether legalising sex work in Thailand could make it safer.

Tunchanok Donhomla’s body was found stuffed in a suitcase in late June near a railway track. The man accused of killing her, Simon Peter Carman, has been charged with murder and abducting a minor for indecent purposes, along with other charges. He has denied murder, claiming he acted in self-defence.

The case has shone a spotlight on the precarious legal situation that Thailand’s large number of sex workers find themselves in.

Despite being famous for having some of the world’s biggest red-light districts in cities like Bangkok and Pattaya, commercial prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand.

Now advocates are pushing to change that, arguing that legalisation could better protect sex workers in future.

Asia Specific host Mariko Oi speaks to Siromas Akrapongpanich, a child safety advocate from the Human Help Network based in Pattaya, and senior journalist Panisa Aemocha from the BBC Thai service.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re on TikTok, Instagram or Facebook, chances are you’ve come across microdramas: 30 to 90-second videos with over-the-top and emotional plots. Every episode ends on a cliffhanger. It’s easy to get addicted.

Microdramas first started in China around 2018, and in 2024 the microdrama industry surpassed China’s film box office for the first time.

The success of this multibillion dollar model has since spread around the world – in the US, South Korea, and across South East Asia.

Some companies are now using Artificial Intelligence to produce these short drama series. While AI can dramatically cut production times, it is also reshaping the industry and putting jobs at risk.

In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko unpacks the economics behind the global microdrama boom with Eunice Yang, a reporter with the BBC Chinese service, who has spoken to actors whose jobs have been affected by AI. Also on the show is David Kwok, the founder of the Singapore-based Tiny Island Productions, a company that works with microdrama companies across China and internationally.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: [email protected]

Cancer patients are increasingly travelling to China for CAR-T therapy. How did China become a leader in cancer treatment and could it become a major medical tourism destination?