Japan

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) expects stable inward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. Qualcomm taking steps to address National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) concerns, but still at risk of serious NDRC actions against it. Subway gets bitten over reports of doctored food expiration dates at a Beijing franchise. Chinese car dealer complaints to government force foreign auto companies to put on the brakes in sending cars to dealers. Facebook adjustments to user content raise questions about the company’s dealings with China. Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area connects with LinkedIn Corp. to attract talent. Japan and Thailand explore railway infrastructure cooperation. Foreign pharmaceutical firms in Korea are trying to get workers to swallow a bitter bill as they seek to downsize. Hyundai Motor wins approval from Chongqing and Changzhou to build two new car factories. Malaysia eases restrictions on Indonesian banks to further regional financial integration. Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment launches new national foreign investment information system.

Foreign luxury carmakers take steps to deal with a less luxurious Chinese market. Premier Li Keqiang suggests Qualcomm antitrust case may witness a win-win outcome. China hints at plans for its own cyberspace realm. China uses big hammer to deal with small nails. China Railway Construction Corporation wins massive Nigeria railway construction contract. Indian government choses Japanese trading house, Sojitz, to install power-equipment for the Delhi-Mumbai cargo railway system. Money laundering case results in Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ US $315 million fine and employee sanctions. Hitachi offers to buy railway and rail signaling sectors of Italian Industrial conglomerate Finmeccanica. Mitsubishi Corp. and Jalux partner with Myanmar’s Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd to operate Myanmar’s second-largest airport. IKEA berated in Korea before beginning operations there. Indonesian President Jokowi assures the country about FDI’s impact. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman invites Singaporean companies to participate in infrastructure projects in Queensland

FAW-Volkswagen stalls on massive recall issues while accelerating auto parts presence in China. Foreign companies face a taxing environment. China’s National Development and Reform Commission proposes changes to open up China wider to foreign investors. Qualcomm under siege in China and profits suffer. Chinese Minister-Counselor in the UK voices concern about British visa restrictions on Chinese workers while touting Chinese firm contributions to the UK. Huawei tunes into Namibian ICT workers for training at its Shenzhen HQ. Transparency International bites at Chinese company disclosures. Foreign countries look to Japan for defense technology cooperation. Japanese utilities partner with Singaporean and Indian firms to reduce the cost of LNG imports. Brazil, Mitsui, and the Japanese government cooperate on Brazilian subway project. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pushes Honda for information regarding the Japanese auto parts maker Takata’s defective air bags recall. Australia and Fiji look to reinvigorate trade and investment links. Hyundai-Kia pays US massive fine for overstating car fuel efficiency. Iran reaches out to Indonesia to express interest in investments in Indonesia’s oil and gas sectors.

Intel to chip in billions in two Chinese mobile chipmakers. FT analysis of Chinese anti-trust actions fails does not conclusively reveal any anti-foreign bias. Microsoft and China work to coordinate a trustworthy antitrust investigation. Let the Microsoft Xbox games begin as Xbox One launches in China. iPhone 6 and 6 Plus get connected in China. Chinese clothing contract manufacturers and end buyers tighten their belts. Long running China-European Union telecommunications dispute set to get hung up. Sino-German investment cooperation grows with billions of dollars in deals. Japanese banks set up fund in partnership with Middle East investors that will support agricultural investment and Japanese agricultural exports to the Middle East. Three Japanese mega financial institutions bank on new opportunities in Myanmar after receiving licenses. Japanese banks expand in South America to support Japanese firms investing and building infrastructure in the region. Japan moves to export its police station system to South American in order to improve the security environment for Japanese firms. Chinese investment flows into Korea raise dependency concerns. Indonesia touts attractiveness of Indonesia investment environment under President-elect Jokowi. Taiwan moves to boost overseas investment by domestic insurance companies. Taiwan Business Alliance conference in Taipei yields record amount of investment pledges by foreign firms.

Inward foreign direct investment into China hits two-and-half year low, though service IFDI and IFDI from Korea remain bright spots for the first eight months of 2014. The fray about whether or not China’s antimonopoly investigations fairly treat foreign firms increasingly draws in foreign governments with some foreign executives backing China. Accusations emerge that Qualcomm, the subject of a major antitrust investigation, has bribed a high-level State Council official. Academics and Chinese populace voice diverse concerns about foreign investment in China. Foxconn, major Apple supplier, denies report that benzene use at its factories caused leukemia among workers. Chinese outward FDI continues to show considerable vibrancy, rising to over $65 billion in the first eight months of 2014. China pledges to invest $20 billion in Russia during first China-Russia Cooperation Council for Investment. Drivers of Chinese investment in Africa include direct invitations from the highest political levels. Recent changes in the political environment and lure of the China market seem to be inducing Japanese investors to think about pursuing increased investment in China. National Development and Reform Commission steers its attention to Toyota’s Lexus spare and replacement part pricing practices. Internet Initiative Japan Inc. seeks to provide its first data center, known for its power saving features, to the Laotian government. Iraq conflict forces declines in South Korean oil imports. Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) requires companies with a capitalization exceeding $10 billion to issue CSR reports to deal with the fallout of the Chang Guann food oil scandal. Taiwan to cooperate with France on the Internet of Things.