Show Notes
This week we examine the state of the pandemic in East Asia, which has been caught in an unprecedented COVID surge from the omicron variant. In particular, China's zero-COVID strategy has faced its stiffest challenge as lockdowns in Shanghai have stoked rare civic unrest.
In this episode, Monica Hunter-Hart speaks with Nikkei data journalist Grace Li about how COVID is hitting Asia right now, Nikkei reporters CK Tan and Pak Yiu, who give us the latest from the ground in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding, who breaks down the recent surge and what might happen next. Finally, Alice French returns with the Tokyo Dispatch focusing on the nuclear power debate within Asia just ahead of Earth Day.
Click here for an exclusive offer to save 83% on a Nikkei Asia subscription
Asia Stream is hosted by Jack Stone Truitt and produced by Monica Hunter-Hart and Nikkei Asia digital editor Wajahat S. Khan.
Related to this episode:
Nikkei Asia COVID-19 Recovery Index
How virus-free Shanghai turned into China's COVID-19 epicenter, by CK Tan
Locked-down Shanghai residents scramble to find food, by CK Tan
Asia's COVID success stories become the world's worst hot spots, by Shin Watanabe, Kotaro Hosokawa and Tomoya Onishi
China scrambles as COVID exposes cracks in Hong Kong leadership, by Pak Yiu
More from Asia Stream
This episode, we look at China's media and political influence efforts, which are only just starting to be taken seriously by the rest of the world. We bring in the expertise of Josh Kurlantzick, author of the new book Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World.
This episode, we look at the immigration trends Asia is experiencing and how the world population may rearrange itself over the next few decades. Our guide is Parag Khanna, author of Move: Where People Are Going for a Better Future.
This episode, we discuss the appointment of Pakistan's new army chief. After months of drama and debate, Gen. Asim Munir has taken the helm of the world's sixth-largest fighting force and only nuclear-armed Islamic military. But what exactly is the big deal in a general taking charge? Well, considering that the army's ruled Pakistan for over three decades and continues to influence its governance from behind the throne, the most powerful man in the country is the army chief, not the prime minister. So when the Pakistani military's top gun changes, the world takes notice.
This episode, we investigate the online scamming industry that is plaguing Southeast Asia -- particularly Thailand. The Chinese underworld is trafficking people into Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos and forcing them to swindle victims young and old. And it's gotten much worse since the pandemic began, with Thailand's scam calls jumping 270%.
This episode, we discuss the results (so far) of the U.S. midterm election and how they will change Washington’s foreign policy in Asia, touching on China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Iran, Russia and beyond.