China's Politburo Urges More Policy Coordination Ahead of Two Sessions | East Asia Tonight (Feb 27)
China’s top decision‑making body, the Politburo, urged more proactive fiscal and moderately looser monetary policies ahead of next week’s annual Two Sessions, emphasizing job stability, market confidence and a push for domestic demand and technology self‑sufficiency. State media outlined a draft five‑year plan that targets a 5% growth target, greater self‑reliance in science and tech, and expanded new growth drivers. Simultaneously, a sweeping anti‑corruption purge saw 19 National People’s Congress deputies expelled, nine of whom were senior military generals, including a former navy commander and ground forces chief. Analysts highlighted that the removal of senior PLA officers could diminish military input into the upcoming legislative session, yet defense spending is still projected to increase. Xi Jinping’s anti‑corruption campaign, now extending deeper into the armed forces, underscores a broader effort to tighten party discipline and curb perceived inefficiencies. The combined economic and security signals suggest Beijing is seeking to stabilize growth while reinforcing party control over the military. Investors and foreign partners will watch the Two Sessions for concrete policy measures, especially regarding fiscal stimulus, technology subsidies, and the scale of the defense budget, which will shape China’s domestic and geopolitical trajectory.
North Korea's Kim Jong Un Hints at Talks with US, None for Seoul | East Asia Tonight (Feb 26)
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un signaled a willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States while maintaining a hostile stance toward South Seoul, describing the capital as the “most hostile enemy.” The remark came during the country’s five‑yearly party...
Singapore’s Total Fertility Rate Hit Historic Low of 0.87 in 2025
Singapore's total fertility rate fell to a historic low of 0.87 in 2025, down from 0.97 in 2024 and far below 1.24 a decade earlier. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong warned this as an existential challenge, projecting a shrinking...
Fiscal Forecasts Are Not Too Conservative as Growth Outcomes Can Vary Significantly: PM Wong
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said fiscal forecasts are not overly conservative, noting that growth outcomes can diverge sharply from projections. He highlighted that any revenue upside is returned to citizens through measures such as the SG60 cash package and...
Durable Solution to Cost Pressures Is Steady, Sustainable Wage Increases: PM Wong
Singapore’s 2024 budget directs roughly 95% of spending toward long‑term, structural measures aimed at cushioning households from rising cost pressures. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted that wage growth has consistently outpaced inflation, allowing Singaporeans to spend a smaller share of...
Singapore Will Not Have Jobless Growth Amid AI Push: PM Wong
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong concluded three days of parliamentary debate on Singapore’s budget, emphasizing a growth agenda anchored in AI adoption, business transformation, and fiscal soundness. He asserted that the nation will avoid jobless growth despite geopolitical turbulence and rapid...
China Could Further Open up Healthcare Sector to Foreign Investors as Population Ages
Chinese policymakers are signaling a possible further opening of the healthcare sector to foreign investors as the nation confronts rapid population aging. People over 60 already represent about 23% of the population and are projected to exceed 30%—more than 400 million—by...
Budget 2026 Debate: Yip Hon Weng on Avoiding Further Tax Increases in the Near Term
In the Budget 2026 debate, Yip Hon Weng, a global‑investment professional, praised Singapore’s surplus and fiscal discipline while urging the government to hold off on additional tax hikes. He framed fiscal buffers as strategic insurance that safeguards sovereignty and provides flexibility...
Japan's PM Takaichi Vows to Break with 'Fiscal Austerity' To Spark Economic Revival
Japan’s prime minister, Sana Takaichi, used her first policy speech after re‑election to announce a decisive shift away from the country’s long‑standing fiscal austerity. She argued that Japan cannot sustain a future without growth and pledged to stimulate investment across...
Growing Role of Chinese Pharmaceutical Firms in Global Supply Chains
The video highlights how Chinese biotech firms are reshaping global drug supply chains, with Shanghai’s “Pharma Valley” emerging as a hub. Goldman Sachs data show that 46% of new drug molecules entering human trials in the first half of 2025...
AI Must Be Accessible and Inclusive, Says PM Modi at AI Impact Summit in India
At the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged that artificial intelligence be made accessible and inclusive, advocating for open-source approaches so wider talent pools in the Global South can contribute to AI development and safety....
Batam’s Ambition to Be a Regional Digital Hub
Batam is rebranding itself from a manufacturing stronghold to Indonesia’s next regional digital economy hub, centering development around the Nongsa Digital Park special economic zone. Its proximity—just 45 minutes by ferry—to Singapore positions the island as a natural extension for...
Singapore F&B Firms Test Out New Halal Brands, Products to Boost Production for Mideast Market
Singapore’s food and beverage sector is using the Gul Food 2026 exhibition as a launchpad for new halal‑certified brands aimed at the Middle Eastern market. Over thirty local firms showcased everything from ready‑to‑eat noodles to saté sauces, hoping to translate...
Ventures Grew in 2025, 2.5 Times the Number of Firms in 2020: EnterpriseSG
Enterprise Singapore is boosting Singapore firms’ expansion into the Middle East through a new Singapore Enterprise Centre in Dubai, which aims to run about 150 advisory sessions and support 30 projects this year across infrastructure, real estate and tech-driven services....
Chinese New Year: Sellers of Barbecued Pork Slices Keep Prices Steady by Absorbing Costs
Sellers of barbecued pork slices are maintaining price stability for Chinese New Year treats even as pork and labor costs climb, while a fire at Century Bakwa’s kitchen threatens short‑term supply. The vendor reported a record season, moving more than...
Cuts to Car Rebates May Raise Business Costs for Fleets, Private Hire Drivers: Industry Players
Singapore’s 2024 budget slashed early‑registration car rebates by 45 percentage points, halving the maximum payout to S$30,000. The move targets all vehicle age groups and removes a key financial buffer for fleet operators. Industry players warn the cut accelerates depreciation, raising...
