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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 19 hours ago

New Thai Parliament Convenes Amid Continuing Legal Scrutiny of February 8 Election

Mon, 16/03/2026 - 01:25
The Constitutional Court is set to rule on whether the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers violated constitutional provisions on voter confidentiality.

The Iran-Israel-US War Is Exposing China’s Alliance Problem

Sun, 15/03/2026 - 21:24
The conflict in the Middle East accentuates a structural weakness in China’s global strategy: the absence of capable allies that can act as a force multiplier.

China’s Difficult Choice in the Iran-Israel-US War

Sun, 15/03/2026 - 21:07
The development of the current conflict has placed Beijing in a complex and awkward strategic position.

Trump’s China Trip: 3 Possible Deliverables

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 23:02
The United States and China need to lower expectations about Trump’s trip and focus on delivering a few concrete outcomes.

Skill at Scale: India’s Edge in Semiconductor Alliances 

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 22:52
As Indo-Pacific powers race to reorganize semiconductor supply chains amid intensifying China-U.S. strategic competition, where does India fit in?

China’s New Five-Year Plan Prioritizes Robotics. The World Should Pay Attention.

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 21:33
Beijing is embarking on a "whole-of-nation push" to achieve permanent dominance in physical AI technologies.

Kashmir’s Endless Wait for Statehood – and Hope

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 19:09
Instead of working with locally elected officials in Jammu and Kashmir, New Delhi is drafting legislation to forcibly remove opposition figures from office.

The Iran-Israel-US War Is Reconfiguring US Force Posture in the Indo-Pacific

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 18:35
The concentration of U.S. military assets in the Middle East is forcing allies like Japan and South Korea to ask themselves hard questions about U.S. reliability.

Despite Top-level Tensions, Strategic Mineral Cooperation Among Western Allies Is Quietly Deepening

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 16:01
The effort to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains is now starting to have tangible results.

Shockwaves Across Asia: The Iran War’s Strategic Fallout

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 15:57
From energy disruptions to alliance tensions, a geographically distant conflict is having immediate consequences across the Indo-Pacific.

Vietnam and the Geopolitics of Critical Minerals

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 14:41
While Washington builds coalitions, Vietnam is betting on self-reliance.

Japan’s Political Paradox: Why Young Liberals Backed a Conservative Landslide

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 13:36
Are young Japanese voting based on an “idol effect” – or are they redefining entirely what it means to be liberal vs conservative?

South Koreans Keep the Faith in America Even as Washington Tests It

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 13:17
South Koreans continue to choose the United States over any rival power by historically wide margins. But don't call it naivety.

Why India Is Right to Support the US and Israel in the Iran War

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 11:38
What good would it do India to hitch itself to the sinking ship of Iran, instead of its actual partners, such as Israel and the UAE?

Indonesia’s Local Content Requirements Are No Shortcut to Industrialization

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 06:04
Without more accountability and transparency, LCRs will remain a blunt protectionist instrument rather than a true catalyst for industrial transformation.

Major Southeast Asian Economies Targeted by New US Trade Probes

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 05:18
Against the backdrop of the war in Iran, the move is likely to create new points of friction in U.S. relations with the region.

Strategic Stakes Rise for Bangladesh as Iran Targets Gulf Neighbors

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 04:24
There are practical ways in which Bangladesh could contribute to the security and stability of the Gulf without becoming directly involved in military confrontation.

Indonesia and Australia to Expand Security Cooperation to Include Japan, Papua New Guinea

Fri, 13/03/2026 - 00:56
The announcement follows the signing of a major security agreement between Jakarta and Canberra last month.

How the New Gulf War Is Impacting Mongolia

Thu, 12/03/2026 - 21:13
Countries like Mongolia, despite being distant from the conflict, are already feelings its impact on their economic activities, not to mention how the war disrupts future possibilities. 

Deterring China: The Growing Japan–Philippines Security Partnership

Thu, 12/03/2026 - 18:35
The growing partnership between Japan and the Philippines is not an actual alliance – but it could affect the balance of power in the South China Sea.

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