Asia Specific

Seen as pests in some parts of Asia, long-tailed macaques are highly sought-after in the world of biopharmaceutical research for drug development. But now a worldwide shortage means one monkey can sell for tens of thousands of dollars, so what’s driving up the cost? China’s fast-developing biopharmaceutical industry has created more demand for macaques, and South East Asia is jumping on the opport...

The Grammys created a new category for Asian pop music, but BTS have decided to withdraw from the awards in 2027. The group says music should be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. The Recording Academy, organisers of the Grammy Awards, said the creation of several new categories, including Asian pop, is meant to make the ceremony more inclusive. So, is...

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is tightening visa and residency rules for foreigners amid growing concerns about the pace of immigration in recent years. But Japan’s overall population continues to shrink alongside neighbouring China and South Korea, raising a question: Why don’t these countries embrace larger-scale immigration as a way to offset the decline? Takaichi’s changes to permanent...

China has a growing “manosphere”. But it isn't a copy of the one in the West. So what's fuelling the anger among many young Chinese men? There are no Andrew Tate-style influencers leading a movement. Instead, frustration is spread across online communities where some young men vent about dating and the cost of building a family. The soaring cost of marriage and the long shadow of the one-child pol...

Myanmar’s military-backed government is seeking legitimacy from its neighbours, more than five years after troops overthrew a democratically-elected government and triggered a bloody civil war. So does this mean the imprisoned former leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will be released? Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing pulled off a huge diplomatic victory with a red carpet welcome from i...

If you’ve ever booked a flight across Asia for less than US$100, you might have asked the question many travellers are now wondering: was that a temporary golden age, or can cheap travel make a comeback? Asia used to be the home of ultra-cheap flights, but many travellers say those days are fading fast. Rising fuel prices, aircraft shortages and heavy post-pandemic debt are putting pressure on bud...

In a highly unusual move, the US has stepped in to back Japan's currency, the yen. Donald Trump calls it a "signal of friendship" but what is Washington hoping to achieve? And what does the move reveal about Japan's economy, after years of deflation and ultra-low interest rates? In this special bonus episode, Asia Specific podcast host Mariko Oi joins as guest of the BBC Business Daily podcast hos...

A record 12.7 million university students in China are about to enter the workforce, putting an already strained job market under unprecedented pressure. China’s youth unemployment rate has been relatively high, hovering around 15%, but the growing challenge of AI has some analysts forecasting a youth jobless spike. Artificial intelligence is starting to replace an entire layer of entry-level posi...

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. But now the country’s government is seeking to change that. In May 2026, Vietnam was named by the US government as one of the worst offenders for Intellectual Property right violations. Combined with fresh threats...

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 me...

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 Pew Research Center, a non-partisan, US-based think tank, found that China’s global image is eclipsing that of the US, with 25 out of 36 countries surveyed preferring China over the US – a reversal from previous years. The shift comes as Presi...

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,...

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 d...

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 mili...

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? Japan is facing a royal succession dilemma. With a shrinking imperial family, fewer members are available to carry o...

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 i...

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 ha...

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?

This year Youtuber Logan Paul sold the world’s rarest Pokemon card for a record-breaking 16 million USD. He isn’t the only one selling Pokemon cards for huge sums. Cards from the 30-year-old Japanese game and animation franchise have become one of the most sought-after items for collectors, with both fans new and old getting in on the action. What drives this market, and are these traders real Pok...

North Korea and Russia are about to open their first road bridge connection, deepening a partnership that has rapidly expanded since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The growing relationship is helping fuel one of the most surprising stories in Asia today: North Korea's economy appears to be performing far better than many expected. New housing projects are transforming Pyongyang, consumer activity h...

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says she wants a vote on amending Japan's constitution, reviving a debate that could reshape the country's Self-Defence Forces, its alliance with the US, and relations across Asia. Japan's post-war constitution has remained unchanged since it came into force in 1947. Its famous 'Article 9' renounces war and appears to prohibit the country from maintaining arm...

Australia's government is winding back tax incentives for property investors in a bid to make housing more affordable - but will it work? From Sydney to Seoul, Bangkok to Beijing, housing affordability has become one of the biggest economic and political issues facing young people across Asia Pacific. In many major cities, home prices have risen far faster than incomes, leaving many first-time buy...

A slight uptick in South Korea’s notoriously low fertility rate in the last two years has begged the question - are government policies to encourage dating, marriage and babies working? It’s a question governments across Asia are asking, a region where fertility rates are at very low levels, particularly in Japan, China, Taiwan and Singapore. Governments across the region have been rolling out ini...

There are more Asian teams competing in this year's FIFA World Cup than ever before, but can any of them win? With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, Asia has nine nations plus New Zealand from the Oceania confederation competing for the prize across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Many, like Saudi Arabia and Iran are from the Middle East, but East and South East Asia will be represented by World C...

Having welcomed Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing, China's leader is making his first overseas trip of this year to North Korea. It's Xi Jinping's first visit to Pyongyang in seven years, and he's visiting a nation bolstered by an increasingly close relationship with Russia, which has seen North Korean troops on the battlefield in Ukraine. Why would a leader used to welcoming foreign dign...