[ASIA]
Hello from Tokyo. As a journalist, I’ve spent years interviewing startups across Asia and the U.S. Competing with larger, established players, these young companies must carefully manage limited resources and stay sharply focused on growth. Above all, a startup’s success often hinges on the capabilities of its founders.
Among Asian nations, Singapore has risen to prominence by embracing a startup-style approach to governance. Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, the city-state has established a strong presence in Asia — rivaling larger, resource-rich countries — by strategically deploying talent and focusing investments in key areas. Of course, the nation also had an exceptional founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
Singapore held a general election last Saturday, and the results were no surprise: The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) won by a landslide. However, the election marked a significant milestone as the nation prepares to celebrate its 60th year of independence in August. This vote symbolized a shift in leadership from the Lee family, which has guided Singapore for decades. Led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong — who succeeded Lee Hsien Loong, son of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, in May 2024 — PAP ran a campaign that appealed to younger voters, with several senior cabinet members stepping down, highlighting the rejuvenation of the party’s leadership.
The retirement of the founding generation is one of the major risks a startup faces when it matures into an established company — and the same might be true for nations. As the U.S.-China trade war intensifies and Asia’s geopolitical landscape becomes increasingly unstable, steering Singapore has become more challenging than ever for Wong. I invite you to visit our website to explore our in-depth coverage and analysis of the Singapore election and its implications for the rest of Asia.
My suggested reads
1. Across East Asia, a growing number of parents from Japan, South Korea and China are choosing to educate their children in Malaysia as they seek a balance between academic excellence, safety, affordability and prospects. After suffering a sharp downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of international students grew 42% from 2022 through 2024 to 30,000.
2. As China braces for the impact of Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, Beijing is urging state-backed tech companies including display maker BOE and PC giant Lenovo to venture overseas more aggressively than before. The aim is to cushion the blow of 145% tariffs on Chinese-made goods by investing in production in third countries and cultivating new markets.
3. Vietnam marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on April 30. Driven by a booming electronics industry led by giants such as Apple and Samsung, the country’s GDP has grown 51-fold since 1994. This story looks back at Vietnam’s remarkable transformation through data and photos.
4. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state remains open to trade with China, warning that President Donald Trump’s 145% tariff poses a major threat to the largest state economy in the U.S. He told Nikkei Asia that California is “disproportionately impacted” due to its extensive trade with Asia and Silicon Valley tech companies’ integrated supply chains and markets in the region.
5. In the Indonesian village of Tanjung Luar, local fishing crews continue to haul in sharks for meat and valuable fins, fueling one of Southeast Asia’s largest shark markets even as catches dwindle due to overfishing. This powerful photo essay captures the daily lives of the people involved in this booming but increasingly precarious trade.
Through the lens
This week’s top photo pick: Carp streamers fly above a field in Higashimatsushima on May 5 to remember people killed when the northeastern Japanese city was devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011. (Photo by Kyodo)
Check out more of our photo coverage here
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Akito Tanaka
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