Sara Duterte trial, Takaichi-Lee summit, Samsung unionists go on strike
Welcome to Your Week in Asia.
Following last week’s vote by the House of Representatives, the Philippines watches Vice President Sara Duterte face a senate impeachment trial on Monday. All eyes are on the outcome, which could be indicative of the Duterte clan’s future in national politics and have a significant bearing on the presidential election in 2028.
In East Asia, the trade union of Samsung Electronics, a South Korean electronics-to-semiconductor manufacturer, will garner attention across the region as it faces employee bonus demands amounting to 15% of its operating profit. It will also be a busy week for the country’s President Lee Jae Myung, as he hosts Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi from Tuesday, and local election campaigns begin on Thursday.
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MONDAY
Sara Duterte impeachment
The Philippine senate convenes for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, whose tenure has been rocked by a second impeachment vote in the past year. The trial centers on charges including bribery, corruption and a high-profile threat against the president’s life. Convicting the vice president requires at least a two-thirds majority.
Thai GDP
As Thailand releases GDP growth figures for January to March, the economy is expected to be shown as lackluster despite increased exports and a tourism upturn that now weigh against the effects of the Middle East crisis.
Data: China’s sales of retail goods and property investments
Earnings: Baidu
TUESDAY
Japan’s Takaichi meets South Korea’s Lee
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi travels to South Korea for two days to meet President Lee Jae Myung for discussions on economic ties and global security challenges connected with the U.S.-Iran conflict. The leaders last met in January in Takaichi’s hometown of Nara, and this time will convene in Andong, Lee’s hometown. They will try and build on the existing positive rapport, and add to the general warming of bilateral ties between Seoul and Tokyo.
India-Nordic summit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the third India-Nordic summit in Oslo and meets his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store as well as leaders from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. Following two earlier summits held in Stockholm in 2018 and in Copenhagen in 2022, the visit “will impart a more strategic dimension to India’s relationship with the Nordic countries” in areas like technology, renewable energy, defense and cooperation in the Arctic, a statement issued by New Delhi said.
Japan GDP
Japan’s GDP for the first three months of 2026 is set to be made public. The impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on the first quarter will be limited, with a QUICK survey of economists indicating O.4% growth from the previous quarter, or an annualized rate of 1.6%.
Data: Malaysian CPI
WEDNESDAY
SkyeChip IPO in Malaysia
SkyeChip, the Penang-based chip design company, launches its initial public offering, making it the first Malaysian company in the sector to be listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. The company aims to raise 352 million ringgit ($89.2 million), selling at 0.88 ringgit per share. The listing comes as Malaysia doubles down on ambitions to build a domestic IC design ecosystem, with SkyeChip among the early beneficiaries of a national push that includes access to Arm’s chip design platforms.
Indonesia monetary policy
Bank Indonesia announces its latest policy rate decision. The central bank has kept the rate unchanged at 4.75% since September, but some analysts are predicting a rate hike after the rupiah hit record lows in recent weeks.
Halfway point for Taiwan’s Lai
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te marks the halfway point of his term, which has been marked by bruising political battles with a domestic opposition coalition that controls the legislature.
APEC trade talks
The week after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China, the country hosts trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Suzhou. Workshops and events starting on Wednesday will lead up to ministerial sessions on Friday and Saturday, described by Beijing as a chance to work toward “an open and predictable regional and multilateral economic and trade order.” China is due to hold the annual APEC leaders meeting in Shenzhen in November.
THURSDAY
Samsung’s trade union goes on strike
Samsung Electronics unionists vow to go for an all-out strike in their pursuit of 15% of the company’s operating profit for employee bonuses. Management is fighting back, and worries that it could weaken the company’s competitiveness and cause a shareholder backlash. Samsung’s labor dispute sparked national debate on how to distribute profits in the semiconductor industry — one senior government official suggested paying a dividend to the public with tax revenue from Samsung and its rival SK Hynix.
South Korea local election campaigns start
Candidates officially begin campaigning for South Korea’s June 3 local elections, seeking seats as mayors, governors and superintendents of education. The polls will mostly focus on local concerns, such as transportation infrastructure and job creation, but will also act as an early-term bellwether for the administration of left-leaning President Lee Jae Myung.
Earnings: Singtel
