Dec 13, 2014

If you want to see how the use of torture has undermined U.S. influence and power, look at Latin America. From San Salvador to Santiago, the continent’s citize

Dec 11, 2014

Nearly two decades after America rolled out its strong-dollar mantra, Japan seems to have adopted the opposite chant. Finance Minister Taro Aso reminded reporte

Dec 10, 2014

As economists debate whether Shinzo Abe can end Japan’s long funk, I can’t help but wonder if another wealthy, seemingly world-beating economy isn’t headed f

Dec 09, 2014

China’s state media chose a strange time to announce the indictment of former security czar Zhou Yongkang: just after midnight in Beijing last Friday night. Zh

Dec 05, 2014

Southeast Asia plans to spend an estimated $7 trillion over the next 15 years upgrading infrastructure. There’s a real risk the money may go to waste. No one d

Dec 05, 2014

No one ever doubted that the Chinese authorities could clear protesters from Hong Kong’s streets if and when they chose. It hasn’t come to that. With support

Nov 25, 2014

When is a Chinese company not Chinese? When it’s a complex web of offshore vehicles rooted in anonymous tax havens. That description includes some of the Peopl

Nov 25, 2014

Chinese President Xi Jinping owes his central bank governor a debt of gratitude. Last week looked to be ending on a downbeat note as the much-heralded launch of

Nov 24, 2014

For all its political intrigue over the years, China has had a relatively clear economic strategy, at least until recently. In the last few weeks, however, its

Nov 21, 2014

The first Chinese interest-rate cut in more than two years is a stark recognition that the world's second-biggest economy is in trouble. After years of pili