Michael Smith

After more than six years covering North Asia from Shanghai and Tokyo, I’m excited to be passing the baton to my talented AFR colleague @jessicasier. Jess is brimming with ideas and will be taking on this important role with a fresh set of eyes from early April.

The pharmacist from Fitzroy who amassed a $7b fortune with Chemist Warehouse. Read my interview with the "Don of Discounts" in today's AFR Magazine. @chemistwarehouse afr.com/companies/heal…

afr.com/companies/heal… ⁦@Novartis⁩

Wonderful news. A journalist working for an Australian media outlet is finally back on the ground in #China after a 4 year hiatus. Well deserved @wmdglasgow. Hopefully more of us can follow (but it won’t be me).

St Vincent’s and NIB back from the brink with new deal afr.com/companies/heal…

What I did not want to relive were the bed bugs, hostel dormitory rooms, or hellish overnight bus journeys on pot-holed roads. #Echobox=1723592401" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">afr.com/life-and-luxur…

Donald Trump whisked off-stage in Pennsylvania after multiple shots. FOLLOW UPDATES LIVE: afr.com/politics/feder…

A last hurrah from me. China's economic future - a podcast. podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why…

@jakeadelstein @jessicasier Thanks again for a great interview. See you around.

@MikeSmithAFR @jessicasier We will miss you! See you in Australia later next month I hope! @jessicasier welcome to Tokyo and Asia!

After six and a half years covering China and North Asia it's time to hand over the reins to @jessicasier who is going to be fantastic. Taking a break for 2 months before returning to the AFR in Sydney in a new role. afr.com/world/asia/in-…

@jessicasier Could not have done it without Noriko Honda’s help in Tokyo

@jessicasier The departure from Tokyo was a bit smoother than the Shanghai evacuation in 2020. No media storm or book deal this time round. It's been the best job a journalist could hope for. Especially grateful to the translators, researchers, photographers and everyone who spoke to us.

One of my last assignments in Japan was interviewing @jakeadelstein for @afrmag I've always been fascinated by the Tokyo Vice author's time on the beat exposing Japan's crime gangs. He will be in Australia in June to launch his new book. afr.com/world/asia/the…

Sashimi vending machine, Tsujiki.

Japan’s revival. A false dawn in the land of the rising sun? Many say it’s the real deal. afr.com/world/asia/jap…

Australia, Japan, US agree missile pact against ‘rising threats’ afr.com/world/north-am…

@ErykBagshaw @smh @LisaVisentin Incredible reporting in the face of all the frustrations of the pandemic and access to China. And some good times seeing you on the road in Japan, Taiwan. Beers in Sydney soon.

After three wonderful years in Asia as a foreign correspondent that’s it from me. Excited to be heading home to join the @smh investigations team. I can’t wait to see what @LisaVisentin does next. smh.com.au/world/asia/chi…

The data that reveals the truth about Australia’s China ties afr.com/world/asia/aus…