Myanmar’s military-backed government is seeking legitimacy from its neighbours, more than five years after troops overthrew a democratically-elected government and triggered a bloody civil war.

So does this mean the imprisoned former leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will be released?

Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing pulled off a huge diplomatic victory with a red carpet welcome from influential neighbour Thailand in August.

His visit prompted criticism from Burmese exiles in Thailand, some whom describe Min Aung Hlaing as a “criminal” responsible for a conflict that has claimed an estimated 100,000 lives in the past five years.

Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, Myanmar’s government released the first photos of Aung San Suu Kyi in five years, prompting observers to question whether the 81-year-old will be released soon.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head and exiled Burmese pro-democracy activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

If you’ve ever booked a flight across Asia for less than US$100, you might have asked the question many travellers are now wondering: was that a temporary golden age, or can cheap travel make a comeback?

Asia used to be the home of ultra-cheap flights, but many travellers say those days are fading fast. Rising fuel prices, aircraft shortages and heavy post-pandemic debt are putting pressure on budget airlines across the region.

In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to aviation analysts Shukor Yusof and Brendan Sobie about whether the glory days of low-cost travel in Asia are really over. We also hear from travel blogger Jaclynn Seah, who has noticed airfare increases and changing travel costs across Asia.

They discuss how rising fuel costs are affecting Asian airlines, whether passengers will keep paying more, which carriers are most exposed, whether cheap fares can return, aircraft delivery delays and whether China’s Comac could eventually reshape the market.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

Bonus episode: In a highly unusual move, the US has stepped in to back Japan's currency, the yen. Donald Trump calls it a "signal of friendship" but what is Washington hoping to achieve? And what does the move reveal about Japan's economy, after years of deflation and ultra-low interest rates? In this special bonus episode, Asia Specific podcast host Mariko Oi joins as guest of the BBC Business Daily podcast hosts Rahul Tandon and Will Bain to assess the intervention and what it will mean for Japan.

This is an additional bonus episode, you'll still receive the two regular Asia Specific podcast episodes each week.

It was recorded on Wednesday August 5th, 2026.

You can find more episodes from the BBC Business Daily podcast here: https://www.bbc.com/audio/brand/p002vsxs

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

A record 12.7 million university students in China are about to enter the workforce, putting an already strained job market under unprecedented pressure.

China’s youth unemployment rate has been relatively high, hovering around 15%, but the growing challenge of AI has some analysts forecasting a youth jobless spike.

Artificial intelligence is starting to replace an entire layer of entry-level positions that have traditionally been the starting point for fresh graduates. China, one of the world's fastest adopters of AI, is feeling the impact.

So what can China's government and its young jobseekers do to navigate the labour market?

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by journalist Chen Yan from BBC Chinese Service and economics professor Shen Kailing from the Australian National University.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

The worldwide counterfeit and pirated goods industry is estimated to be worth almost half-a-trillion US dollars, and Vietnam is one of the most significant players in the illicit trade. But now the country’s government is seeking to change that. In May 2026, Vietnam was named by the US government as one of the worst offenders for Intellectual Property right violations. Combined with fresh threats of renewed tariffs from the Trump administration, Vietnam’s government has launched a crackdown, targeting local vendors selling counterfeit goods. Mariko Oi delves into the counterfeit crackdown in Vietnam with journalists Duc Ha from the BBC World Service and Lindsey Tramuta, a freelance journalist based in Paris. Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

China is famous for making products the world wants to buy, but inside the country, consumers are spending far less than the government would like.

A property slump, high youth unemployment and weak confidence have left many households choosing to save instead of spend, making it harder for China to shift its economy away from relying on exports.

The Chinese government has introduced a range of measures to encourage spending, from consumer subsidies to a new five-year consumption plan.

But why haven't these policies delivered the results Beijing hoped for? And is China's low consumer spending simply a temporary problem, or a sign of deeper structural issues?

In this episode, host Mariko Oi speaks to Bloomberg Opinion columnist Juliana Liu and Asia Pacific economist Max Zenglein from The Conference Board about why Chinese households save so much, whether Beijing's latest policies can work and why China's spending habits matter not only for its own economy but also for the rest of the world.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

For the first time in 20 years, a major global survey conducted between February and May of 2026 has found that more countries favour China over the US. The Pew Research Center, a non-partisan, US-based think tank, found that China’s global image is eclipsing that of the US, with 25 out of 36 countries surveyed preferring China over the US – a reversal from previous years.

The shift comes as President Donald Trump's foreign and economic policies have upended the global order. China has spent years working to build a more favourable reputation abroad, drawing accusations of state-sponsored propaganda campaigns, something Beijing has denied.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to Tessa Wong, BBC's Asia reporter, and Bill Birtles, editor of the podcast, unpacking this latest chapter in a decades-long contest for global influence between the world's two superpowers.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk

Humanoid robots are suddenly everywhere - dancing, boxing, running marathons and even attempting surgery. China is leading the charge, producing the vast majority of the world's humanoid robots.

But beyond the viral videos, are these machines actually useful?

Why has China emerged as the global leader in robot manufacturing? How is AI transforming what robots can do? And can countries like the US, Japan, and Germany keep pace?

In this episode, host Mariko Oi speaks to BBC Beijing correspondent Stephen McDonell and BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy about whether humanoid robots are finally becoming practical.

From robot butlers and factory workers to surgeons and carers, we explore how close we really are to living alongside humanoid robots and whether today's machines are groundbreaking technology or simply impressive demonstrations.

Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends.

Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people.

Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter.

Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt

Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk