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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: 16 hours 36 min ago

Napon Jatusripitak on Thailand’s ‘Blue Wave’ Election

Wed, 04/03/2026 - 09:04
"If this was a conservative triumph, it was one built not on ideology but on the disciplined mobilization of patronage networks that had been consolidating for years."

What Does Indonesia Get Out of the US-Indonesia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade?

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 21:51
Jakarta has made numerous concessions in the agreement but there is little evidence of reciprocity from Washington.

Taiwan’s ‘Social Shield’: The Democratic Stakes Beyond Semiconductors

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 21:00
In any scenario where Taiwan loses its democratic sovereignty, Taiwanese women lose first and lose most.

What the Iran-US War Means for Asia

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 18:02
As conflict unfurls across the Middle East, Asian countries – U.S. friends and foes alike – are watching carefully.

Why the US Strikes on Iran Won’t Derail the Trump-Xi Summit

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 17:02
The institutional machinery driving the Beijing summit is already too far advanced to reverse, and the Iran crisis has made holding it more urgent, not less.

Peru and the Limits of Alarmism About Chinese Investment

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 16:16
Legal, political, and sovereign constraints make the militarization of the Chinese-operated Port of Chancay far less plausible than critics suggest.

The Untold Story of Japan’s Election: The Quiet Breakthrough of Team Mirai

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 15:53
Team Mirai, a new party founded in May 2025, secured 11 seats in the lower house.

Sanctions Evasion, Statecraft, and the New Crypto Geography in the Asia-Pacific

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 15:19
In recent years, enforcement agencies have publicly attributed large-scale cryptocurrency theft and laundering activity to state-aligned actors in the region.

The US Attack on Iran Is Reshaping the World Order

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 14:38
The United States risks a permanent quagmire in the Middle East – which will also redefine the strategic balance of the Korean Peninsula and beyond.

Philippine Tourism: Risk, Resilience, and Returns for Private Capital

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 13:12
For investors, there is real potential – but also real risk.

Sri Lanka’s Opposition Is Trying to Securitize Organized Crime. Voters Aren’t Buying It, Yet.

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 13:02
Many Sri Lankans see recent shootings as violence due to underworld rivalry rather than an existential threat to the state.

Implications of Prolonged Unrest in Iran for Pakistan

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 09:22
At a time when Pakistan is grappling with a volatile situation along its Afghan border, instability on the Iran-Pakistan border will add to its problems.

Punch the Monkey Is a Viral Star, But Does His Internet Fame Have a Dark Side?

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 02:51
Animal rights activists say that viral online content about animals like 'Punch-kun' has the potential to drive the illegal wildlife trade. 

Is Cambodia Pivoting to the US by Joining President Trump’s Board of Peace?

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 02:38
A binary U.S.-China framing obscures the layered and multi-directional character of Cambodia’s current foreign policy.

Malaysian Parliament Votes Down Proposed 10-Year Prime Ministerial Term Limit

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 02:15
The Bill was a part of a package of reforms that Anwar announced in January, in response to growing discontent within the ranks of his unity government.

Myanmar Junta Grants Amnesties to More Than 7,300 Political Prisoners

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 00:42
The release is designed to reinforce the legitimacy of the incoming “civilian” administration and communicate signals of reform to foreign governments.

From AI to Free Trade, South Korea and Singapore Double Down on Partnership

Mon, 02/03/2026 - 22:06
As the competition between the United States and China intensifies, Seoul and Singapore are laying the groundwork for strategic cooperation in a variety of fields.

The Decapitation of Iran: What Tehran’s Chaos Means for China

Mon, 02/03/2026 - 19:23
The joint Israeli-U.S. decapitation of the Iranian regime signals the end of China’s “Westward March” and a blow to its global influence.

North Korea’s Response to the Israel-US Attacks on Iran

Mon, 02/03/2026 - 18:58
Just a week after North Korea signaled openness to dialogue, the U.S. launched a military operation against Iran with a stated goal of regime change.

Uzbekistan’s Afghanistan Push Accelerates

Mon, 02/03/2026 - 18:56
With growing trade volumes, infrastructure initiatives, and initial geological explorations in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan is testing whether economic interdependence and proximity can function as a substitute for political recognition. 

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