Shows / Asian Insider
Asian Insider
Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.
Episodes
Asian InsiderS2E35: Dalai Lama at 90: A life of compassion and conflict
A conversation with Chicago-based Mayank Chhaya, the Dalai Lama’s biographer, on the highs and lows of His Holiness’ remarkable journey through…
Asian InsiderS2E34: Hong Kong’s wistful longing for its cityscape to remain unchanged
From the use of bamboo scaffolding for construction projects to a six-decade-old public housing estate, changes are afoot. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the…
Asian InsiderS2E33: Plain sailing for PM Anwar on a global stage, but rough ride at home
On international platforms, he earns praise but faces rising scepticism domestically. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times analyses…
Asian InsiderS1E1: Explore The Straits Times’ podcasts
Listen to our news commentary podcasts on the go every week. Podcasts have become part of the global media landscape these days. The audio-on-demand format…
Asian InsiderS2E32: 'Second China shock? You ain’t seen nothing yet' says top economist
A conversation with the eminent private sector economist and strategic affairs expert Manu Bhaskaran. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, The Straits…
Asian InsiderS2E31: This Shandong city produces 80 per cent of China’s peony paintings
China’s unofficial national flower is getting Heze noticed, as its cities strive to develop unique calling cards Synopsis: Every first Friday of the…
Asian InsiderS2E30: Chongqing's car market boom amid trade war challenges
Industry players say they will hunker down and focus on Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now…
Asian InsiderS1E1: Landslide win: PAP gets 65.57% of votes in Singapore general election
Singapore's 2025 general election was held on May 3, and the ruling People's Action Party won 65.57 per cent of the national vote, a commanding swing up from…
Asian InsiderS2E29: A view of the cemetery: Why house-hunting in Jakarta is a challenge
Indonesia’s capital, one of South-east Asia’s most crowded cities, contains 12 million people in a land area of 660 sq km. Synopsis: Every first…
Asian InsiderS2E28: “I called Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger supremo Prabhakaran a megalomaniac": Author
A conversation with M R Narayan Swamy, veteran South Asian journalist and biographer of slain Tamil Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran. Synopsis: The Straits…
Asian InsiderS2E27: Xi'an: China's city known for its terracotta warriors and pollution
Xi’an is famous for its terracotta warriors but still faces significant challenges in air pollution. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The…
Asian InsiderS2E25: Dr Anji Sinha: Trump's mystery pick for ambassador to Singapore
Who is Dr Anji Sinha? Our US bureau chief finds that the key to this story lies in relationships. Synopsis: Every third Friday of the month, The Straits Times…
Asian InsiderS2E26: Why are so many mainland Chinese making Malaysia their second home?
Thousands of mainland Chinese are choosing Malaysia’s laid-back vibes over their stressful lives back home. Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times…
Asian InsiderS2E24: From pineapple farms to data centres: Johor’s changing landscape
But Malaysians’ love affair with the fruit persists. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign…
Asian InsiderS2E23: Trump is ‘doing a Mao Zedong’ on the US
Why our expert guest speaker draws parallels with the chaotic Cultural Revolution in China in 1966. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi…
Asian InsiderS2E22: Why Shenzhen still needs 'big brother' Hong Kong in its quest for growth
The relationship may not necessarily be purely competitive only. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest…
Asian InsiderS2E21: America’s new enemies under Donald Trump: Allies, the deep state and the media
Making sense of the domestic and foreign policy agenda of Trump 2.0 – and the implications of a new world order for Asia. Synopsis: Every third Friday of…
Asian InsiderS2E20: Does Philippines need a China rethink in Trump era?
Find out too, why the Rodrigo Duterte outreach to China failed. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi…
Asian InsiderS2E19: In a home in India’s Trichy, a laminated photo of Lee Kuan Yew hangs
The choice of decor by a Tamil Nadu resident whose father was a bus conductor in Singapore speaks of the ties between both cities. Synopsis: Every first Friday…
Asian InsiderS2E18: Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone: What will make it a success?
Insights on Asean's beachside pow wow, the Johor-Spore economic zone and ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The…
Asian InsiderS2E17: Trump's blistering start - why the rush and its impact on Asia
Making sense of the blitz of executive orders, announcements and rhetoric from the new US President - and what Asia should take away. Synopsis: Every third…
Asian InsiderS2E16: Restoring the Great Wall of China - and keeping it authentic
The Great Wall of China was built for protection, but now it's in need of guardians to preserve the 2,000-year-old structure. Synopsis: Every first Friday of…
Asian InsiderS2E15: Why Myanmar’s military will not fall in 2025
We look at what is happening on the ground with a Myanmar watcher. Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi…
Asian InsiderS2E14: Previewing Trump 2.0
What are some of President Trump’s likely policy priorities after he takes office for a second time? Will he do exactly as he threatened? Synopsis: The…
Asian InsiderS2E13: Thailand’s domestic politics needs revival to spark economy, regional influence
Political stalemate is diminishing Thailand’s international stature and economy Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a…
Asian InsiderS2E12: Mountains of debt deepening human and environmental crises
Developing countries are in a vicious debt cycle with little relief in sight, undermining social progress. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor…
Asian InsiderS2E11: The new AI stands for Asean and India
Factors to watch are increasing population, workforce and productivity. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times’ senior columnist Ravi Velloor, as he distils…
Asian InsiderS2E10: Dreams of Indonesia's informal workers
Want a dress ironed? A facial? A shirt darned? Or perhaps a coffee freshly brewed, right on your doorstep? Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The…
Asian InsiderS2E9: Brace for turbulence: China, South-east Asia and Trump 2.0
The US’ President-elect inherits a world different from that in his first term. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh shines a light on…
Asian InsiderS2E8: How Asean is bracing for Donald Trump’s tariff tactics
While there is concern over trade policy, US investors remain bullish on business with Asean. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal Ghosh…
Asian InsiderS1E2: Tariffs, deportation, Musk: 3 words could define US' Trump 2.0 era
We examine the impact of the recent US presidential election result. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ associate foreign editor Lim Ai Leen and senior columnist Lin…
Asian InsiderS2E6: What lies beneath: Chongqing’s subterranean world
Its warren of underground bunkers and tunnels, which sheltered the city’s residents during the heavy bombing of the Second Sino-Japanese war, are turned into…
Asian InsiderS2E5: What next after Japan's political earthquake?
Political upheaval in Japan as its snap elections see the ruling party lose its majority, reshaping its ties with the US and Asia. Synopsis: Join The Straits…
Asian InsiderS2E4: Concern over potential post-election instability in the US
Unless one candidate wins swing states decisively, a quick settlement is unlikely in America’s cliffhanger election. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global…
Asian InsiderS1E1: 10,000 miles in Trump country
Navigating the US election scene - from Trump's rise to economic worries and the shifting tides of masculinity in politics. Synopsis: The Straits Times’…
Asian InsiderS2E2: How will Singapore fare under a Harris or Trump 2.0 US administration?
US trade policy and US-China competition concerns are high on the minds of South-east Asia observers. Synopsis: The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal…
Asian InsiderS2E1: Is Cantonese dying out in Hong Kong?
Some are holding fast to their mother tongue, even with migration overseas, and are coming up with creative ways to spread the learning and use of Cantonese…
Asian InsiderS1E114: South-east Asian scam centres a growing regional security threat
Why action is needed to avoid some countries being labelled as 'scam states'. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global…
Asian InsiderS1E113: How a savvy Asean has helped prevent wars in region: Kishore Mahbubani
The seasoned Singapore diplomat is bullish on India and Asean but says the US should not be underestimated. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the…
Asian InsiderS1E34: What future for the famed Gurkhas?
Revered as soldiers, the Gurkhas are Nepalis who are recruited into the British Army, the Singapore Police, the Indian Army, and recently, even the Russian…
Asian InsiderS1E36: Chinese sauces are popular in India; less so are their purveyors
The bitter aftertaste though, is the story of how Chinese Indians are struggling to fit in. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats…
Asian InsiderS1E112: Understanding China-Philippines' dangerous South China Sea face-offs
Aggression from China is driving Manila and Washington closer, spurring a loose coalition against Beijing. Synopsis: Every third and fourth Friday of the…
Asian InsiderS1E19: A look back at Paris Olympics 2024 with Max Maeder
ST sports reporters and the SG bronze medalist look back at memorable moments in the Paris Olympics. Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in…
Asian InsiderS1E28: Kamala Harris and Indo-Americans’ stunning rise in US national life
We chat with Mayank Chhaya, Chicago-based veteran chronicler of the Indian diaspora, on Kamala Harris’s appeal and chances in the upcoming Nov 5 US…
Asian InsiderS1E35: Micro-drama boom: In this town, Chinese youths chase their showbiz dreams
Hengdian, in Zhejiang province, is booming as the location set for two-thirds of China’s period dramas. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits…
Asian InsiderS1E111: Why Myanmar’s crisis scuppers India’s Act East Policy
Hear why this policy is in jeopardy on several levels, including the risk of being outmanoeuvred and encircled by China in its near east. Synopsis: Every…
Asian InsiderS1E34: Japan fights to save its beloved bookshops
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants to take action to get people to return to brick-and-mortar stores. Synopsis: Every first Friday of the…
Asian InsiderS1E32: ‘Judo, botox and yoga’ – what’s Putin up to in Asia?
Analysing this is our guest - Ambassador Peter Tesch, the veteran Australian diplomat and policy strategist. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist…
Asian InsiderS1E110: Looking back at 'pageantry' of Trump Presidency: A ringside view
Our guest expert offers a striking insider look at what it was like to cover Donald Trump’s presidency, and lessons learnt from it. Synopsis: Every fourth…
Asian InsiderS1E31: Could China, India go to war again?
Our expert guest on what to expect on the external front from Modi 3.0, India’s challenges, and options. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior columnist…
Asian InsiderS1E33: Hong Kong's vanity car plates a creative outlet as freedoms narrow
The affordable luxury of personalised car licence plates are proving an enduring and endearing avenue for self-expression in a changing Hong Kong Synopsis…
Asian InsiderS1E5: Are young people breaking up with dating apps?
Swiping for love used to be the way for millennials to find a connection, but there seems to be growing dating app disillusionment among the young. Synopsis…
Asian InsiderS1E109: Why war 'by design' over Taiwan is unlikely: Bilahari Kausikan
South-east Asian countries appreciate there is no strategic balance in the region without the US, so they will find ways to deal with whoever is in the White…
Asian InsiderS1E4: Titus Low: From SG's most famous OnlyFans creator to real estate agent?
Singapore’s most well-known OnlyFans creator Titus Low is slowly moving on from the platform that has brought him fame, money and drama. Lots of it. Synopsis…
Asian InsiderS1E30: Singapore’s stakes in India’s election: Will polls bring a surprise?
Hear from our guest expert on Singapore’s stakes in seeing a stable government rule the world’s fifth biggest economy. Synopsis: Join The Straits Times' senior…
Asian InsiderS1E32: Chinese' salve for loneliness: Pay to drink at strangers' homes
The rise of home bars in cities across China shows how young Chinese are craving for companionship but without having to invest in relationships. Synopsis…
Asian InsiderS1E3: Youths on their expectations of Singapore's next PM Lawrence Wong
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong becomes Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15, 2024, when he succeeds current PM Lee Hsien Loong. Synopsis: The…
Asian InsiderS1E108: No magic bullet but vaccines may help long war against dengue virus
Asia is on the cusp of a summer of life-threatening dengue fever. Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times' global contributor Nirmal…
Asian InsiderS1E31: Thai music, Thaksin, a ‘tattoo’: Thailand feels its way forward
Tan Tam Mei reflects on her time as Thailand correspondent, and looks ahead to how the country could navigate geopolitical and domestic politics. Synopsis…
Asian InsiderS1E1: Having babies: Natural next step after marriage or thank you, next?
Our guests discuss if parenthood is an expectation or choice. Synopsis: The Straits Times’ Natasha Ann Zachariah explores contemporary societal choices and…