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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 22 hours ago

In Afghanistan, Growing Resistance Meets Fears of Pakistani Influence

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 14:57
Five years after the Taliban’s return, the Afghan resistance is growing but so is the fear of Pakistan’s shadow.

5 Years After the Fall: Why the World Still Misreads the Taliban

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 14:26
The international community assumed that governing would change the Taliban. The Taliban, however, viewed government as a means of transforming society according to their ideology.

Afghanistan: 5 Years in the Dark

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 14:25
How the Taliban turned Afghanistan into a country where half the population has been ordered to disappear.

Mecca Joint Deterrence Agreement: Implications for India

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 12:48
Pakistan would surely try to rally the group and invoke the pact in some form in the event of tensions with India.

Indonesia’s Transgender Community Is Facing Growing Repression

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 09:28
Vigilante mobs are attacking transgender people as the government takes steps to codify anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes into law.

The Key Takeaways From the Vietnamese President’s Visit to Australia

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 09:04
To Lam's four-day trip marked a new high-water mark in the relationship between Hanoi and Canberra.

Thailand Denies Reports It Planned to Use Security Cooperation as US Tariff Leverage

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 08:20
Bangkok has reaffirmed its commitment to the security relationship and denied a report that it was prepared to link military cooperation to ongoing trade talks.

Restrictions on Foreign Fund Flow to Christian Organizations in India Complicate India-US Ties

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 04:52
If the row over India’s proposed amendment of the FCRA persists alongside other irritants, the trade deal will remain in limbo for the foreseeable future.

How Indonesia Can Get Ahead in the Artificial Intelligence Race

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 04:08
The country has the abundant land and energy resources needed to power hyperscale data centers. Can it harness them effectively?

Former Myanmar Ambassador to UK Goes on Trial For ‘Trespassing’ in Diplomatic Residence

Fri, 14/08/2026 - 03:52
Kyaw Zwar Minn argues that the military government formed after the 2021 coup was illegitimate and had no authority to order him to vacate Myanmar House.

How Could the Rise of Progressive Democrats Impact US China Policy?

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 19:08
A divide over China, although less pronounced than the divide over Israel, has become increasingly visible among Democrats as progressives have risen within the party.

Why Is Everyone Playing Mahjong? 

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 16:48
The centuries-old game is having a moment. But what happens when a tradition rooted in Chinese history becomes a lifestyle trend?

Can South Korea’s $880 Billion AI Ambition Help Cement Its Status as a High-Tech Powerhouse? 

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 16:05
Plans are firmly underway to ensure that South Korea’s chipmaking strength can help to facilitate a stronger global position when it comes to the AI buildout. 

North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles, Deepening Silence Fuels Analyst Speculation

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 15:32
Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington condemned two ballistic missile launches ahead of allied military drills, but Pyongyang’s failure to report either test has left analysts guessing at the cause.

The US Military Can’t Function Without China

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 15:13
Rare earths are critical to making modern weapons – and China dominates the supply chain.

Can Japan’s Defense Industry Meet its Ambitious Goals?

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 14:48
Japan increasingly recognizes the importance of the defense industrial base as a source of strategic capability. But can the industry actually deliver?

Competing Interests, Common Narrative: How Industry Shapes the AI Race

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 14:48
Different firms in the AI value chain invoke the AI race narrative, but with different policy preferences in mind.

Vietnam’s Top Leader Concludes Australia Visit With Trade, Defense in Focus

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 14:25
In their updated Joint Vision Statement, Canberra and Hanoi identify a more challenging regional security environment.

How the Modi Government is Downgrading India’s National Anthem

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 09:23
For the first time in eight decades, the country’s national song, Vande Mataram, will precede the playing of the national anthem on Independence Day.

Vietnam, Rare Earths, and the Evolving China Plus One Strategy

Thu, 13/08/2026 - 07:15
Vietnam has benefited greatly from foreign firms' desire to de-risk from China. Can it free itself of dependence on the country's critical rare earth inputs?

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