Big Take Asia

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

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What Xi Jinping’s Military Purge Means for China and the World Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Beijing is holding its first military parade since 2019, showcasing the strength of China’s armed forces. Underneath the show of power, a Bloomberg investigation has found President Xi Jinping is orchestrating the biggest purge of military leadership since Mao Zedong. On today's Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg's John Liu about the dramatic restructuring of China’s military and what this sweeping shakeup could mean for the rest of the world. Read more: Xi Unleashes China’s Biggest Purge of Military Leaders Since Mao Further listening: The Shadowy Fleet of Tankers Moving Iranian Oil to China Tensions Are Growing in the South China SeaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Trump Has a Shipbuilding Dream. Can South Korea Make It a Reality? Tuesday, August 26, 2025

South Korean shipyards are busier than they’ve been in years. Seoul and Washington are working to finalize a new trade deal that will include a $150 billion commitment to help stimulate the US shipbuilding industry. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Weilun Soon about whether the US-South Korea shipbuilding alliance could help President Trump achieve his US shipbuilding dreams, what South Korea stands to gain from the investment – and if it will be enough to disrupt China’s maritime dominance. Read more: South Korea’s $150 Billion Bet on Trump’s Shipbuilding Dream See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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From the Gobi Desert to Wall Street: a Conversation With Weijian Shan Friday, August 22, 2025

From a life of hard labor in the Gobi Desert to becoming a prominent Hong Kong investor, Weijian Shan's story is one of incredible contrasts. In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg's Mishal Husain, the Chinese economist and author opens up about his childhood during the Cultural Revolution, his thoughts on Hong Kong’s National Security law and President Trump’s trade war with China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Rebel Army Behind One of the World’s Major Rare-Earth Supplies Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Myanmar is the world’s third-largest producer of rare earths and a critical supplier for neighboring China. But rebels have recently taken control of most of the country’s mines — creating a complicated situation for Beijing and for global supply chains. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and reporter Timothy McLaughlin discuss the Kachin Independence Organization’s newfound control of a majority of Myanmar’s rare-earth mines, how the change is shifting Myanmar's political dynamics and what the group’s growing influence could mean for the future of rare earths. Read more: A Rebel Army Is Building a Rare-Earth Empire on China’s BorderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Why Trump Is Letting Nvidia Sell (Some) AI Chips to China Thursday, August 14, 2025

In an unusual deal, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices have agreed to pay the US government 15% of their revenue from AI chips they sell to China. The US has blocked the sale of other, more powerful chips to China on the basis of national security, but the exception underscores the Trump administration’s openness to make exceptions… if the price is right. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg economic statecraft reporter Joe Deaux joins host Sarah Holder to explain the unprecedented nature of the deal, concerns about its legality and how it fits into Trump’s approach to trade with global competitors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How China Is Bringing Hong Kong’s IPO Market Back to Life Tuesday, August 12, 2025

After a years-long slump, Hong Kong’s IPO market is roaring back to life, thanks to a growing number of Chinese companies that are raising billions of dollars in the city. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Dave Sebastian explore how China is transforming the financial hub into a key funding engine for mainland firms— and the risks this poses for banks on Wall Street and beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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India Won’t Stop Buying Russian Oil. Now It’s Paying the Price. Tuesday, August 5, 2025

President Trump has been cranking up the pressure on India, a country the US has courted as a strategic counterweight against China. Last week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on the country, a higher rate than many other major economies in Asia. But he didn’t stop there. This week, he’s threatened to raise the levy even higher. His message to India is clear: Stop buying Russian oil. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg’s Sudhi Ranjan Sen joins K. Oanh Ha to unpack the historical and economic ties that have kept Russia and India close and discuss why that relationship is now being tested on the world stage. Read more: Trump Vows to Ramp Up India Tariffs in Escalation of Russia Spat Further listening: Is Trump’s Trade War Strategy Working?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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China Bets Big on a $167 Billion Tibetan Dam Tuesday, July 29, 2025

China is building the largest power plant the world has ever seen, in a very remote corner of Tibet. But the $167 billion hydropower dam has environmentalists and neighboring countries concerned. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host Menaka Doshi speaks to Bloomberg’s Dan Murtaugh about the engineering and geopolitical challenges, and the impact construction will have on the country’s economy.Read more: Xi Ties His Legacy and China’s Economy to $167 Billion Dam Further listening: China's Plans to Make AI a UtilitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Trump’s Tariffs Force Europe to Rethink Ties With China Tuesday, July 22, 2025

This week, top European Union leaders are traveling to Beijing for a high-level summit which could set the tone for the relationship between the EU and China for years to come. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha and Bloomberg’s Alan Crawford examine the shifting ties between Brussels and Beijing and the effect Trump is having on the relationship. Read more: US Tariffs Are Changing Europe’s Approach to Chinese Investment Further listening: The American Toymaker Suing Trump Over Destructive TariffsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What Is Jane Street? And Why Are Regulators Watching It? Thursday, July 17, 2025

Jane Street is one of Wall Street’s most profitable and secretive firms. And when Indian regulators accused it of market manipulation earlier this month, it rocked the finance world. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg finance reporter Katherine Doherty joins host Sarah Holder to go inside Jane Street’s unique trading strategy, and what new regulatory scrutiny could mean for the high frequency trading industry. Read more: Jane Street’s Trading Secrets Spill Into Open and Face Rivals’ ScrutinySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Leaked Phone Call that Plunged Thailand Into Crisis Tuesday, July 15, 2025

A leaked phone call between Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia's Hun Sen has ignited a significant political crisis in Thailand, leading to large-scale protests and her suspension from office. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Patpicha Tanakasempipat about the political fallout and its impact on the powerful Shinawatra clan, which has dominated Thai politics for almost three decades. Read more: Humbled Thai Billionaire Is a Warning to Trump-Era PopulistsFurther listening: What Thailand's Same-Sex Marriage Victory Means for the EconomySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Bloomberg’s Interview With Malaysia’s Longest-Serving Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Thursday, July 10, 2025

Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, turned 100 this week. Bloomberg Weekend Editor-at-Large Mishal Husain sat down with the veteran former leader for an interview in the offices of his foundation, just outside Kuala Lumpur.Husain asked him about his thoughts on aging and leadership; what he thinks Donald Trump’s tariff war means for Malaysia; and what he sees as the way forward, in a world that’s getting more tense and divided by the day.Read more: Mahathir Mohamad: Trump Is ‘Against the Whole World’Further listening: Bloomberg’s Interview With UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Bloomberg’s Elon Musk InterviewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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China's Plans to Make AI a Utility Tuesday, July 8, 2025

In a remote part of China's northwestern Xinjiang region, dozens of data centers rise from the desert. A Bloomberg analysis of investor and tax documents and company filings found Chinese companies plan to buy more than 115,000 high-tech Nvidia chips — chips the US has banned from being exported to China – to power these centers, which could then be used for training AI models. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Andy Lin and James Mayger about the story, and what it means for China’s AI master plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The American Toymaker Suing Trump Over Destructive Tariffs Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Trump’s trade war has thrown American businesses, which source everything from aircraft parts to baby strollers from China, into chaos. Now some companies are challenging the president’s tariff rulings in the courts. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha is joined by Rick Woldenberg, CEO of the toy company Learning Resources, and Bloomberg’s Lucille Liu, to talk about the impact of the trade war on US importers and Chinese manufacturers and what it ultimately means for American consumers. Read more: Chinese Toymaker Takes Drastic Action to Survive Trump’s TariffsFurther listening: Live from Hong Kong: Why China Can Afford to Wait for a Deal, and the US Can’tThe US and China’s High-Stakes DiplomacySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What the Israel-Iran Conflict Means for China Tuesday, June 24, 2025

On Tuesday morning, in a series of posts celebrating the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel, Donald Trump touched on one of Iran’s most significant economic relationships, writing, “China can now continue to purchase oil from Iran.” Today on Big Take Asia, host Oanh Ha is joined by John Liu, who oversees Bloomberg’s China coverage from Beijing, to discuss what’s at stake for China in Iran and how the conflict could change China’s game plan — not just in the Middle East, but on the global stage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How China Is Building a Powerful Army of Hackers Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Teams from China used to dominate international hacking competitions, until Beijing ordered them to stop attending and take part only in domestic tournaments.On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Jamie Tarabay about how tournaments are helping boost China’s cyber-espionage capabilities and what that means for the world. Read more: Chinese Hacking Competitions Fuel the Country’s Broad Cyber Ambitions - Bloomberg Further listening: The ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’ Cyber Threat Watch, from Originals: How China Is Building an Army of HackersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The US and China’s High-Stakes Diplomacy Thursday, June 12, 2025

President Donald Trump said a trade framework with China has been completed after two days of talks in London. He said Beijing would supply rare earths and magnets “UP FRONT” and the US would allow Chinese students into colleges and universities. On today’s episode, Big Take hosts Sarah Holder and K. Oanh Ha speak to Bloomberg’s Brendan Murray, who’s on the ground in London, and John Liu about how the two countries will hammer out a deal. This conversation was taped before Trump announced a deal had been done. Read more: Trump Says China Will Ship Rare Earths in ‘Done’ Trade DealFurther listening: A Turning Point in Trump’s Trade WarIs the US-China Trade War Over?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Wall Street Banks Are Battling for Japan’s Top Young Talent Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Japan’s hottest banking talent is in high demand as Wall Street goes all out to woo new hires with fancy dinners, strong-arm tactics and higher salaries. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg’s Lisa Du talks to host K. Oanh Ha about why firms are resorting to extreme measures and the problems they face in hiring top talent. Read more: Global Banks Scramble to Hire Top Talent in Booming Japan Further listening: Can’t Get Enough of Matcha? Too Bad – Japan Is Running LowSouth Korea Has Plenty of Botox But Not Enough DoctorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Nintendo's Big Bet on Switch 2 Tuesday, June 3, 2025

The Nintendo Switch has generated some $100 billion in sales for the Japanese gaming giant since its launch in 2017, propelling the company’s shares to record highs. Now the game-maker is under pressure to do even better with the new Switch 2, out this week. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg Opinion’s Gearoid Reidy joins host K. Oanh Ha to talk about why the Switch 2 is so important to Nintendo’s business and whether it can live up to the hype. Read more: If the Switch 2 Stumbles, Nintendo Has No Plan BWatch, from Originals: Nintendo’s High-Stakes Bet on the Switch 2Further listening: A Turning Point in Trump’s Trade WarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Dollar’s Dominance Is Unwinding in Asia Tuesday, May 27, 2025

As Donald Trump tries to remake global trade, the dollar’s historic dominance in Asia is under pressure. After Taiwan’s currency saw the biggest surge against the dollar in almost 40 years in early May, some money managers are saying the spike signals the acceleration of a bigger trend of moving investments back home. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host Rebecca Choong Wilkins talks to Bloomberg’s Ruth Carson about what’s driving Asia’s shift away from the greenback and what a rewiring of global financial ties means for the region’s biggest economies. Read more:Asia’s $7.5 Trillion Bet on US Assets Is Suddenly UnravellingFurther listening: Carry Trades, ExplainedCould the Chinese Yuan Ever Replace the US Dollar? Big Take DC: Stephen Miran on Market Woes and Currency Watch, from Originals: Why the US Is Getting DowngradedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.