Big Take Asia

Amid Iran’s brutal crackdown on protesters, President Trump threatened to slap a 25% tariff on its trading partners, including China and India. This comes as both countries try to deescalate their own trade wars with the administration. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg’s Daniel Ten Kate about why the path to punishing Iran’s government runs through Asia – China and India in particular. Read more: Trump Risks Imploding China Trade Truce With Iran Tariff VowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US strike on Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro sent shockwaves across the globe — particularly in China, Venezuela’s top crude buyer and creditor. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, Bloomberg’s Jenni Marsh and host K. Oanh Ha talk through what the intervention means for China’s strategic ties and oil supplies and how the military strike could change Beijing’s stance toward Taiwan. Read more: Xi Faces Higher Costs in Taiwan Than Trump Does in Venezuela Further listening: How the Fall of Maduro Could Echo Around the World Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Naomi Ng, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate, Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Jenni Marsh; Edited by Jeff Grocott, Emma O’Brien, Daniel Ten Kate, John Liu. Fact-checking by editorial team; Engineering by Alex Sugiura. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China started 2025 with deflation, a property crisis and fears of a “lost decade” damping sentiment. By year’s end, it had stunned the world with an AI breakthrough, a trillion-dollar trade surplus and rare earth dominance. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks with Bloomberg Executive Editor John Liu and Bloomberg Opinion’s Shuli Ren about how China navigated Trump’s tariff war, revived investor confidence and what risks could derail its momentum in 2026. Read more: Repeat After Me: Never, Ever Underestimate ChinaXi’s Triumphant Year Staring Down Trump Belies Woes in China Hosted by: K. Oanh Ha; Produced by: Naomi Ng and Yang Yang; Reported by: Shuli Ren and John Liu; Edited by: Paddy Hirsch; Fact-checking by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by: Katie McMurran. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin. Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the start of his second term, President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs – especially on China, where most toys are made. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host Oanh Ha talks with Rick Woldenberg, CEO of four‑generation toymaker Learning Resources, about his company’s battle against tariffs in stores and in court – and what it reveals about the true cost of America’s trade war. Read more: Cutting Ties With China Is Harder Than Companies Expected Further listening: An American Toymaker Struggles to Break Up With ChinaIndia Wanted to Become The World’s Toymaker. Then Tariffs HappenedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons, but this year’s storms exposed something far uglier: a vast corruption scandal. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg’s Andreo Calonzo and Rosalind Mathieson about how billions of dollars earmarked for flood control vanished and what the crisis means for the country’s political and economic stability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.