Michael Smith

Health Editor for the Australian Financial Review based in Sydney. Former Tokyo/Shanghai correspondent and author of The Last Correspondent.

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

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.

[Jessica Sier @jessicasier]

🌏 New job alert! 🌏

I've been appointed the North Asia Correspondent for @FinancialReview .

I'm taking over from the splendid @MikeSmithAFR , who dodged and weaved his way out of China in 2020.

I will begin this posting on 1 April and will be operating out of Tokyo, Japan.

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

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 https://t.co/2RjpYGi7k8

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

https://t.co/uLmqThwPPl

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

https://t.co/Mz1zappxV3

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

https://t.co/IlGdoB1GPb ⁦@Novartis⁩

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

https://t.co/OsZ4v3hcG2

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

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).

[Will Glasgow @wmdglasgow]

After a four year intermission, I'm back in Beijing.

I've got my foreign reporter’s press card — and with that little piece of plastic, China’s four year black-listing of Australian media ended.

Here's my first story back here for @australian https://t.co/WZ86NpRbyB

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

St Vincent’s and NIB back from the brink with new deal https://t.co/AdfvqUS8mq

[Financial Review @FinancialReview]

What I did not want to relive were the bed bugs, hostel dormitory rooms, or hellish overnight bus journeys on pot-holed roads. https://t.co/vW88rULDAU

[Financial Review @FinancialReview]

Donald Trump whisked off-stage in Pennsylvania after multiple shots.
FOLLOW UPDATES LIVE: https://t.co/TomWIuR3b1

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

A last hurrah from me. China's economic future - a podcast. https://t.co/342vJSxqgf

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

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

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

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. https://t.co/CCr9M3xXF1

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

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

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

@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.

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

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. https://t.co/TbgNPo0kSU

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

Sashimi vending machine, Tsujiki.

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

Japan’s revival. A false dawn in the land of the rising sun? Many say it’s the real deal. https://t.co/MioGP4aaZv

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

Australia, Japan, US agree missile pact against ‘rising threats’ https://t.co/Azp30wLl44

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

@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.

[Michael Smith @MikeSmithAFR]

The data that reveals the truth about Australia’s China ties https://t.co/m5SV52AiAr