Banyan
Our columnist offers perspective on Asian politics, economics, and culture
Asia
Once a free-market pioneer, Sri Lanka takes a leap to the left
A new president with Marxist roots now dominates parliament too
Asia
How South-East Asia can weather the Trump trade typhoon
The complacent region could use an outside jolt
Asia
Yes sir: a bizarre initiation ritual for Indonesia’s cabinet
The newly-inaugurated president sends his ministers to boot camp
Asia
Japan is remarkably open to AI, but slow to make use of it
The land of Doraemon embraces the new technology in theory but not in practice
Asia
Myanmar’s military junta has conjured up a crazy currency system
Desperate for cash, the Tatmadaw is distorting foreign-exchange markets
Asia
Has Narendra Modi lost his mojo?
Two state elections suggest that India’s prime minister is no longer such a vote-winner
Asia
Who will become Japan’s next prime minister?
The three leading candidates offer very different visions
Asia
The private sector won’t save America’s Indo-Pacific policy
More needs to be done to repair the economic relationship with South-East Asia
Asia
Youngsters are fleeing Japan’s once-mighty civil service
Why would anyone sane and talented work for it?
Asia
Welcome to India, where the streets have four names
Constantly renaming cities, roads and stations is pointless and counterproductive
Asia
Why does the West back the wrong Asian leaders?
The supposed bastions of liberalism need to fix their picker
Asia
If a China and America war went nuclear, who would win?
After 45 days of conventional fighting nukes would be tempting, wargamers suggest
Asia
Taiwan braces for America’s election
For the opposition, a possible Trump victory is another reason to talk to China
Asia
India cannot fix its problems if it pretends they do not exist
The government’s response to bad news is to stick its fingers in its ears
Asia
How Asia’s wild west shakes up the modern world
James C. Scott, an anthropologist, shed light on an ungovernable region