Banyan

Our columnist offers perspective on Asian politics, economics, and culture


Asia

Why all Indians are rule-breakers

Because the state makes it impossible not to be

Asia

A surprise East Asian love-in

Donald Trump has given two neighbours more reasons to get along

Asia

A White House love-in for Pakistan’s big man outrages India

It comes after Donald Trump ditched a meeting with Narendra Modi

Asia

Fading Modi-momentum

The BJP’s appetite for bold reforms has waned

Asia

The mystery of China’s missing military

Why the PLA has ducked a brawl with America

Asia

Narendra Modi has kept his vow to make India like Gujarat

Better infrastructure and higher incomes, but also greater segregation and discrimination

Asia

On its own terms, ASEAN is surprisingly effective

The group has helped keep countries from each others’ throats

Asia

India’s broadcast media wage war on their audience

When hyper-nationalism goes feral

Asia

How should India promote Hindi? By doing nothing

Squabbles over language are heating up

Asia

How the global south forgot its own birthday

A damp squib Bandung anniversary shows a lack of solidarity

Asia

Where new talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un might go

A crisis is more likely than a genuine breakthrough

Asia

Australia’s election could come down to independent MPs

Both main parties may need their support