You are here

TheDiplomat

Subscribe to TheDiplomat feed
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: 8 hours 18 min ago

Investigation: Is Shakhmurat Mutalip Kazakhstan’s New Chosen One?  

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 13:58
The 35-year-old is building an empire spanning railways, energy and mining. Most Kazakhs have never heard of him.

Japan Moves to Institutionalize Drone Warfare as Manpower Shortfalls Deepen

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 17:02
Two new GSDF offices signal a shift toward unmanned, AI-enabled operations amid demographic decline.

Why Are Educated Baloch Women Turning to Militancy? 

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 16:43
The Corps Commander of Balochistan asked the question. He may not like the answer.

Japan’s PM Faces Gas Tax Headwinds When She Flies to Australia

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 16:01
As Australia’s biggest gas customer, Japan is alarmed by growing calls for a new tax on gas exports. Elsewhere in Asia, leaders recognize renewables can help break reliance on volatile fossil fuel supply chains.

An Opportunity or an Illusion? The Iran War and China’s Taiwan Calculus

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 15:26
The Iran war has shifted U.S. military capabilities out of the Indo-Pacific. Will Beijing try to take advantage?

Afghanistan: Evolving Role of Regional Cooperation and UNAMA

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 14:42
Afghanistan is no longer viewed exclusively as a source of risks, but increasingly as a space of opportunities, especially from Central Asia’s perspective.

Coal Is Rising in China’s Clean Energy Transition

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 14:19
China is not moving from coal to renewables in a linear transition. Instead, it is attempting to expand both simultaneously.

Bangladesh’s Parties are Divided Over the Reform Process

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 13:16
Despite a clear "yes" vote in the referendum, the BNP government is dragging its feet, prompting the opposition to protest in parliament and the streets.

Indian Navy Needs More Stringent Planning

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 10:50
The plan was to equip the navy with about 200 warships by 2027, but financial limitations dictate a more modest flotilla of just 170 vessels.

Thousands of Overseas Filipinos Celebrate Former President Duterte’s Birthday

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 07:28
Despite him facing charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC, support for the former Philippine leader remains strong among Filipinos abroad.

Southeast Asia’s Solar Panel Boom

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 06:48
It's not just about China. The world is now benefiting from historically cheap solar panels made in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Philippines Accuses China of Cyanide ‘Sabotage’ at South China Sea Shoal

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 06:22
Philippine security officials claim to have discovered plastic bottles of cyanide on Chinese boats close to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Indonesia, US Announce New Defense Partnership as Prabowo Visits Russia

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 02:19
Washington and Jakarta have pledged to broaden and deepen their defense partnership, but Indonesia is unlikely to abandon its non-aligned foreign policy orientation.

The US and China Need to Talk About Unmanned Nukes

Mon, 13/04/2026 - 20:00
"Human-in-the-loop" is not enough.

Why Did Wang Yi Go to North Korea? China’s 3 Strategic Calculations

Mon, 13/04/2026 - 19:18
China had three interrelated goals in mind – all linked to the upcoming Trump-Xi summit in May.

Iran War Tests BRICS — And Reveals its Limits

Mon, 13/04/2026 - 17:20
Despite calls for mediation, the grouping has remained fragmented, highlighting its role as a “club” like the G-7 rather than a forum for collective action.

India on the High Seas: Hormuz and the Future of Maritime Security

Mon, 13/04/2026 - 16:17
Vice Admiral R.B. Pandit, former Commander-in-Chief of India's Strategic Forces Command, assesses the maritime consequences of the Iran conflict and the long-term shifts reshaping the Indian Ocean's strategic order.

Japan Is America’s Indispensable Ally

Mon, 13/04/2026 - 16:06
Trump, China, and the Iran War make this point even clearer.

The Domestic Politics of Cheng Li-wun’s China Trip

Mon, 13/04/2026 - 15:27
Cheng's meeting with Xi Jinping was not just about cross-strait dynamics, but about securing her own position within the KMT.

Dependence Without Trust: The Drivers of Pakistan-UAE Divergence

Mon, 13/04/2026 - 15:08
The recent geopolitical turbulence surrounding the United States-Israel-Iran conflict may become a pivotal moment for Pakistan-United Arab Emirates ties after nearly a decade of simmering mistrust. 

Pages