Welcome to Your Week in Asia.
Vietnam hosts a major defense expo this week, ASEAN ministers meet in Thailand to discuss Myanmar’s civil war and Japanese flash memory producer Kioxia makes its trading debut in Tokyo.
South Korea’s political drama is sure to grab headlines again after lawmakers on Saturday voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived declaration of martial law.
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China publishes key industrial production and retail sales data while Japan and several Southeast Asian nations hold policy meetings.
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MONDAY
South Korea’s next chapter
South Korean leader Yoon will be suspended from office until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to uphold or overturn a vote to impeach him. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo takes over as acting president in the interim.
China factory, retail sales data
China releases monthly economic statistics including the latest industrial production and retail sales figures. The announcement comes a few days after a leadership conference where Chinese officials pledged to support domestic demand, setting the tone for its economic policy next year.
Thai PM in Malaysia
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visits Malaysia for talks with counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. Security, economic ties and regional cooperation will be on their agenda.
Sri Lanka leader visits India
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who took office in September, makes his first overseas visit to India, which analysts see as competing with China for influence in the Indian Ocean. Dissanayake will hold talks with the top Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Colombo’s debt crisis is expected to figure among key topics of discussion.
TUESDAY
Taiwan tensions
The vice mayor of Shanghai, Hua Yuan, is due to attend an intercity forum in Taipei — a rare and controversial visit that comes against a backdrop of large-scale Chinese military movements that Taiwan sees as intimidation. Taiwan’s Beijing-friendly former president, Ma Ying-jeou, is then scheduled to make his second trip to China this year on Wednesday, leading a group of students on a nine-day trip.
WEDNESDAY
Nippon Steel deal turns 1
Wednesday marks a year since Nippon Steel announced plans to buy U.S. Steel for $14 billion in a deal seen as key to its growth strategy in one of the few major markets where steel demand is growing. But the proposal has faced pushback from the White House and U.S. authorities are soon expected to decide on whether to approve it or not.
Japan memory maker goes public
Kioxia debuts on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in a step toward becoming an independent flash memory maker and allowing a consortium led by Bain Capital to exit from its 2018 buyout. The company is currently owned 56.2% by the consortium and 40.6% by Toshiba. After the listing, Kioxia could find itself at the center of industry consolidation as rivals such as SK Hynix and Western Digital pursue scale.
Monetary Policy: Indonesia, Thailand
THURSDAY
Vietnam defense show
Vietnam hosts a massive defense expo to diversify supplies after decades of relying on the old Soviet bloc. Weapons manufacturers from the U.S., Israel and 25 other countries will be among 200 registrants displaying combat facilities and gear for naval, army, air force and cyber functions.
Hong Kong, Macao milestones
Hong Kong and Macao mark a pair of key milestones this week. Thursday is the 40th anniversary of the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed by then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Premier Zhao Ziyang, which paved the way for the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty. London has since accused Beijing of breaching the agreement with its harsh clampdown on civil liberties in the former colony. Friday, in turn, is the 25th anniversary of Portugal’s handover of its former colony Macao.
Japan policy meeting
The Bank of Japan holds a two-day monetary policy meeting that wraps up Thursday, following a Fed meeting in the U.S., as market watchers waver on whether the central bank will hike rates.
Monetary Policy: Philippines
FRIDAY
ASEAN ministers in Thailand
Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet in Thailand for talks about the civil war in Myanmar and ways to resolve a nearly four-year-old conflict that has engulfed much of the country.
KKR’s Fuji Soft takeover bid
U.S. investment fund KKR announces the results of its second takeover bid for Japanese systems developer Fuji Soft. The American firm has been locked in a competition with Bain Capital for control of Fuji Soft, which has so far backed KKR’s offer.
