Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events
Computex 2026 will feature speakers from many of the world's most important chip companies, with a focus on artificial intelligence, robotics, mobility and other next-gen tech. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
The artificial intelligence data center buildout is straining supplies of key components like fiber-optic cables, but in Taiwan this week the main focus will be on the chip companies underpinning the boom. Aside from hosting speeches by top executives from such businesses, the event will explore various AI applications.
South Koreans might be showing signs of souring on the U.S. alliance amid the Iran war, but they look set to keep the faith with President Lee Jae Myung in local elections this week. Lee currently enjoys strong approval ratings and is generally credited with restoring calm to the nation's politics following the martial law debacle, while he has also presided over a boom in the KOSPI, South Korea's main stock index.
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A U.S. trade delegation starts a four-day visit to the Indian capital "to finalize the details" of an interim trade agreement between Washington and New Delhi, as well as take forward negotiations on multiple areas such as market access, nontariff measures and investment promotion under a proposed broader pact. This comes on the heels of an Indian trade team visiting Washington from April 20 to 23 for meetings with their American counterparts.
Cheng Li-wun, the head of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang, is due to embark on a tour of the U.S. to promote her foreign policy and defense credentials amid growing criticism from part of the Washington establishment. She has said that she will stress the party's position that there is only "one China," a controversial notion known as the 1992 Consensus. Cheng, who has expressed a desire to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, is expected to stay until mid-June and spend time on both the West and East Coasts.
Computex 2026 officially kicks off in Taipei, a day after the event's keynote speech by the Qualcomm CEO. The four-day tech industry get-together will feature speakers from many of the world's most important chip companies, including the CEOs of Arm, Intel and Marvell, with a focus on artificial intelligence, robotics, mobility and other next-gen tech. Jensen Huang, meanwhile, will be in town to host Nvidia's GTC conference on AI.
Bank of Thailand Gov. Vitai Ratanakorn will meet the media to talk about broad monetary and banking issues.
South Koreans will cast ballots in local elections to select mayors and governors. The polls are the first electoral test faced by the administration of left-leaning Lee, who took office one year ago. Survey data shows Lee's ruling Democratic Party leading the conservative opposition in all major races.
The anniversary of Chinese forces' crackdown on students and other protesters in Beijing on June 4, 1989, will pass without commemoration in the capital, apart from heavy surveillance of victims' families. In Hong Kong, where large candlelight vigils were once held every year in Victoria Park, the strict National Security Law imposed by Beijing has snuffed out the tradition. Small memorial gatherings are expected in cities outside China, such as Tokyo and Taipei.
An exhibition in Shanghai showcases the latest products and services geared to senior care in one of the world's fastest-aging societies. The AID show runs through Saturday, with more than 600 exhibitors and over 90,000 professional visitors expected to attend, according to its website.
The Reserve Bank of India announces its key policy rate amid heightened uncertainty for the country's import-dependent economy, which has seen inflation grow as oil prices have spiked as well as a slowdown in growth. The central bank has stood pat on interest rates since December after it instituted a 1.25% cut over the course of 2025 to support growth. However, as inflation rises and the rupee languishes near record lows, calls for a reversal from last year's policy have increased, with many economists predicting a cycle of rate hikes in the near future.
Data: India gross domestic product, Singapore retail sales index
