When Disney opens its largest-ever theme park in Shanghai on June 16, the competition won’t be idle. Wang Jianlin, China’s second-richest man and CEO of Wanda Group, is promising to unleash a “pack of wolves” -- his affectionate term for his own network of family-friendly theme parks -- on the Disney “tiger,” rendering it unprofitable. In its place, he promises a theme park experience less Western in feel and characters, and more in keeping with Chinese culture and values.　Wang isn’t totally cra

Viewpoints May 30, 2016

A number of Republicans rationalize Donald Trump’s proposals on immigration and trade as just political show. Similarly, some free-trade Democrats suggest that Hillary Clinton’s protectionist stance is merely rhetoric.They are deluded. Academic research and recent history show that newly elected presidents try to hew closely to their campaign commitments.“New presidents actually believe they have a mandate, feel empowered,” says Shirley Anne Warshaw, a presidential scholar at Gettysburg College.

Viewpoints May 30, 2016

Here’s a positive move by Turkey, a country that often seems to be heading in the wrong direction: Despite Ankara’s severe misgivings, it is allowing the U.S. military to fly daily bombing missions from Incirlik Air Base against the Islamic State — in support of a Syrian Kurdish militia called the YPG that Turkey regards as a terrorist threat. Turkey offered the Incirlik base last year after a dozen years of tepid military relations with the United States, its superpower ally. Turkish President

Viewpoints May 30, 2016

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to return to New York today, wrapping up his six-day visit to his native country and Japan. During his stay in Korea, he rocked political circles by strongly suggesting that he could run in the 2017 presidential election after completing his second term as U.N. chief.“Next January, I will be a Korean citizen again. I will contemplate what I should do as a citizen, bearing in mind that people have high expectations for me,” Ban said in a press conference. Lam

Editorial May 29, 2016

Following the April general election, the ruling and opposition camps both pledged to depart from their usual politics to establish a new tradition of collaboration in the 20th National Assembly. The new Assembly kicks off today, but the two camps are back in confrontational mode.What has strained relations between the two sides is a bill intended to allow parliamentary standing committees to hold hearings more frequently, thus helping them keep close tabs on state affairs.Under the current modu

Editorial May 29, 2016

So much has been said and written about striking the proper work-life balance. And of all the people in the world, Hong Kong people must work the hardest to find the ideal balance, as we have the questionable honor of logging the longest period each week -- a staggering 50.1 hours, which does not even factor in the daily commute between our home and workplace. If included, it can be safely concluded that most Hong Kong employees, and very likely many of their employers as well, are left with les

Viewpoints May 29, 2016

Toyota is investing in and planning to collaborate with Uber, the largest ride-hailing service. Volkswagen is investing $300 million in Tel Aviv-based Uber rival Gett. And that’s just Tuesday’s news. In January, General Motors put $500 million into Lyft, another Uber competitor. Earlier this month, Apple invested $1 billion in Chinese ride-hailing company Didi and Fiat Chrysler made a deal with Alphabet to develop self-driving minivans.After almost a century of making cars and selling them in mo

Viewpoints May 29, 2016

Here’s today’s Officially Reductive Question: Do you vote by party, policy or person?One of those three p’s usually drives citizens into a voting booth. In November, you’ll probably wear one of those “I Voted” stickers because you’re a staunch Republican or Democrat who turned up to support the party, or because you vote gun rights or women’s health issues and, therefore, choose candidates who most effectively argue for those causes, or because you think a particular candidate will be an intelli

Viewpoints May 29, 2016

Since its humiliating defeat in the April 13 general election, the ruling Saenuri Party has been drifting rudderless. Torn apart by factional strife, the party has not even been able to fill its leadership vacuum, much less make concerted efforts toward reform. Yet it appears to have created momentum for normalizing its operation.The burden to save the party from sliding further into crisis rests solely on the shoulders of Chung Jin-suk, who was elected as the party’s new floor leader early this

Editorial May 26, 2016

Allegations of misconduct are mounting against Hong Man-pyo, a prosecutor-turned-lawyer suspected of having peddled his influence for a CEO of a cosmetics company convicted of illegal gambling.As a prosecutor, Hong was highly competent. He made a name for himself with investigations into high-profile corruption cases involving heavyweight politicians and big corporations. He became a lawyer in 2011 and soon emerged as one of the highest-earning lawyers. In 2013, he earned 9.1 billion won ($7.7 m

Editorial May 26, 2016

Thailand’s next constitution, which is born of authoritarianism, will only be detrimental to the citizenry and the future of the kingdom.As part of its 20-year national strategy, the military-led government has said it aims to foster integrity among public servants well into the future. To concerns expressed about a coup-based regime dictating principles for the future, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has offered reassurances that the intention is only to provide broad guidelines by which succe

Viewpoints May 26, 2016

Nature and the travel agent conspired to get me to Seoul, Korea at the best possible time.  I landed at Incheon in early April to clear skies, nippy winds and the most beautiful trees in full pink bloom. Could it get any better than this? Yes, it could! I was introduced to Namsan Park and I spent most mornings strolling along, admiring the trees, the profusion of flowers and the bird life there.Tourists like myself visit with avidity, eager to take in temples, fortresses and malls and gawk at sk

Viewpoints May 26, 2016