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The Diplomat is a current-affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific, with news and analysis on politics, security, business, technology and life across the region.
Updated: 2 days 3 hours ago

How Indonesians Are Being Recruited Into the Russian Army

Thu, 08/10/2026 - 02:17
So far, Jakarta is yet to come to grips with problem that has arisen alongside President Prabowo Subianto’s efforts to build a closer relationship with Russia.

Trade Agreement With US Close to Completion, Thai Prime Minister Says

Thu, 08/10/2026 - 01:35
Anutin Charnvirakul said that he expected to sign the Agreement on ⁠Reciprocal Trade during President Donald Trump's next visit to Asia.

From Military Base to Pax Silica: Clark and Capas in Philippine History

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 23:30
The history of U.S. involvement in the region demonstrates how domestic political dynamics can get entangled with regional and global geopolitics.

The Lessons the Taliban Have Learned

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 19:38
Afghanistan's leaders haven’t changed ideologically. But five years after returning to power, they have learnt from where the "first emirate" went wrong.

China’s High-Tech Ambitions Have a Blue-Collar Status Problem

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 18:08
Most Chinese still view vocational schools and skilled labor as low status and undesirable.

The Quiet, Careful Growth of Philippine-Taiwan Ties

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 16:44
Manila is exploiting the space between its One China policy and functional cooperation with Taipei.

Russia’s Wildberries Finding Fertile Ground in Central Asia

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 16:22
The Russian e-commerce retailer has announced yet another new logistics facility, this time in Uzbekistan. 

The Strategic Implications of China’s Military Facility in Laos

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 15:59
Ban Keun poses only a limited direct threat to the South China Sea or Taiwan, but it will enhance China’s ability to place pressure on U.S. naval forces.

AI and the Risk to Democracy

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 15:31
Insights from Matthew Botvinick.

Poland’s President in the Philippines: Black Hawks, ASEAN, and US Defense Interests

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 14:59
Could Nawrocki’s visit to Manila serve to promote further Black Hawk sales across ASEAN, potentially benefiting U.S. industrial interests?

Why the Mecca Agreement Might Fail

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 14:12
If each member preserves its own partnerships while expecting the others to absorb its security risks, what does the promise that an attack against one is an attack against all mean when a crisis arrives?

As Tide Turns Against Modi, More Parties Back INDIA Bloc Protests

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 12:56
Police detained scores of opposition lawmakers, who held a sit-in to press their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Pakistan’s Solar Revolution is Reshaping its Power Sector

Wed, 07/10/2026 - 05:14
Solar power generation has expanded rapidly in recent years and has overtaken nuclear power generation for the first time.

Missing the Forest for the Trees in Taiwan’s Defense Preparations

Tue, 06/10/2026 - 19:52
Beyond exercises and equipment, strategic developments in Taiwan’s military preparedness are being overlooked.

Will US President Donald Trump Visit Central Asia?

Tue, 06/10/2026 - 16:57
No U.S. president has ever traveled to Central Asia while in office. Could Donald Trump be the first? Sure. But will he be? That’s a different question. 

South Korea’s $60 Billion Semiconductor Exports to Drive the KOSPI’s Resurgence

Tue, 06/10/2026 - 16:01
South Korea’s economy has become intrinsically linked to the ongoing artificial intelligence boom.

China’s Revised Defense Mobilization Law Touches Nearly Every Sector

Tue, 06/10/2026 - 15:45
The circumstances under which mobilization can be declared are wider than ever, and a large number of entities – including private firms – are legally obligated to the state during wartime.

What Would Europe Do in a Taiwan Crisis?

Tue, 06/10/2026 - 15:11
Washington should not take European assistance for granted, especially if states can't agree on how to label Beijing's actions.

Taiwan’s Maritime Law Enforcement Operations Spark Anger in Chinese Society

Tue, 06/10/2026 - 14:31
The reaction to a Taiwan Coast Guard confrontation reflects the existence of a particularly hardline strand of opinion on Taiwan among mainland Chinese.

Farewell to Russia: The View From Kazakhstan

Tue, 06/10/2026 - 14:05
Karaganda and its environs are home to some of the largest-scale coal-mining on the planet. And once, the home to an immense gulag.

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