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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: 4 days 8 hours ago

India’s Iran Blind Spot and the Gulf War: A Litmus Test of Strategic Autonomy 

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 19:05
New Delhi probably hoped that the conflict would end quickly and hence it could pursue a hands-off policy. That hasn’t worked out.

Corruption Allegations at Kyrgyzneftgas Put Tashiev’s Network in the Crosshairs

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 17:35
The head of Kyrgyzstan’s State Tax Service has alleged that “Kyrgyzneftegaz was completely under the control of the State Committee for National Security,” amid an unfolding corruption case.

Human Rights Due Diligence May Repeat the Limitations of CSR

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 15:43
Emerging frameworks still rely heavily on corporate disclosure and monitoring systems – like CSR initiatives, which often fail to make fundamental improvements in workers’ lives. 

Nvidia Export Curbs Cloud South Korea’s Chip Outlook, Fueling China’s AI Ambitions

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 15:16
Seoul’s semiconductor giants face collateral damage as Washington’s tech blockade inadvertently accelerates Beijing’s domestic hardware breakthroughs.

Responding to the Israel-US vs Iran War: Indonesia’s Board of Peace Dilemma Intensifies

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 15:04
The Israel-U.S. vs Iran war is forcing Indonesia to reassess its Gaza Board of Peace stance, balancing neutrality, public pressure, and support for Palestine.

The India-US Interim Trade Deal and New Tariffs

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 14:56
Insights from Pratik Dattani.

Oil Shocks Are Rewriting Southeast Asia’s Auto Market for Legacy Carmakers 

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 14:40
If established brands do not pivot to electric vehicles immediately, they risk losing market share to a new generation of competitors across the region.

Kazakhstan and the Board of Peace: Humanitarian Aid and Middle Power Ambitions

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 13:59
Kazakhstan’s commitments at the Board of Peace are backed by a multi-layered, field-tested approach to international development assistance.

Fear and Loathing in Pyongyang: What the Iran Strikes Imply for North Korea

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 13:50
Alarmed by the example of Iran, Pyongyang will learn its lessons – and learn them fast.

The Kabul Hospital Strike and the Escalation Logic Driving Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 13:34
The destruction of a rehabilitation hospital is difficult to reconcile with a strategy aimed at neutralizing militants. 

The Japan-US Summit: Takaichi’s Impossible Task

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 13:19
Japan was prepared for a successful summit. Then the U.S. bombed Iran, and Trump demanded Japan send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.

China’s Censorship Is the Most Pressing Threat to Freedom of Expression

Wed, 18/03/2026 - 12:53
Advanced technologies are propelling the CCP’s capabilities for suppressing speech to an entirely new level, both within and beyond China’s borders.

As the Taliban Codify Gender Apartheid, the World Must Criminalize It

Tue, 17/03/2026 - 19:36
Between now and April 30, U.N. member states have a narrow window to publicly support the explicit inclusion of gender apartheid in the draft Convention on Crimes Against Humanity.

Trump Endangers the Handover of the UK’s ‘Last Colony’

Tue, 17/03/2026 - 17:18
Trump has changed his tune on the deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, citing concerns over the fate of the U.S. military base at Diego Garcia.

Beijing’s Real Problem With Trump’s China Summit Delay

Tue, 17/03/2026 - 17:02
In the end, a postponement may suit Beijing’s interests more than Washington’s – as long as it doesn’t become linked with the Hormuz issue.

War in Iran Could Close Central Asia’s Gateway to the Sea

Tue, 17/03/2026 - 16:21
Over the past decade, analysts have increasingly viewed Iranian transit routes as Central Asia’s most promising path to the sea.

The Indonesia-US Agreement: A ‘Reciprocal’ Trade Deal That Isn’t

Tue, 17/03/2026 - 14:52
In the 2026 Indonesia-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, the phrase “Indonesia shall” appears more than 200 times. “United States shall” appears in just nine. The agreement may not hold up under international law.

Trump’s Hormuz Warship Request Puts South Korea-US Alliance to the Test 

Tue, 17/03/2026 - 14:45
President Lee Jae-myung faces a difficult dilemma as he seeks to uphold the South Korea-U.S. alliance while avoiding entanglement in a drawn-out war against Iran.

Taiwan’s First PRC-born Legislator Stokes Controversy

Tue, 17/03/2026 - 13:32
The status of Chinese spouses of Taiwanese has been increasingly a topic of debate in Taiwan.

China Funds 9 Border Posts for Tajikistan as Frontier Violence Escalates

Tue, 17/03/2026 - 13:29
The $61 million grant fits a decade-long pattern of Chinese security investment – now accelerating after attacks on Chinese nationals.

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