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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: 17 hours 50 min ago

US, Philippines on Cusp of Deal on Economic Security Zone, US Official Says

Fri, 22/05/2026 - 07:40
Undersecretary of State Jacob Helberg's comment came days after Philippine officials shot down a U.S. proposal that the 1,260-hectare zone be placed under U.S. jurisdiction.

Kerala’s Climate Plan Speaks the Language of Justice — But Erases Caste

Fri, 22/05/2026 - 05:34
The vulnerability of Dalit and Adivasi communities has been historically produced through land dispossession and forced settlement on hazard-prone slopes and riverbanks.

Malaysia Puts TikTok on Notice Over ‘Offensive’ Posts About Country’s King

Fri, 22/05/2026 - 03:39
An account bearing the name “Sultan Ibrahim Ismail" allegedly disseminated AI-generated videos and manipulated images that defamed the monarchy.

When Internships Enable Child Labor in China

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 20:51
Internships are mandatory for the roughly 4 million children who graduate from secondary vocational schools each year. But some internships involve hazardous conditions – and even death.

Divide and Conquer? Ladakh’s Latest Reorganization 

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 19:46
The creation of five new districts has observers worried that New Delhi is trying to break Buddhist-Muslim solidarity in the restive region.

The Putin-Xi Meeting Made the Trump-Xi Summit Look Hollow

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 17:11
One summit was all symbolism; the other was all substance. China made it clear who its true friend is.

South Korea’s Conservatives Are Running Out of Time

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 16:10
Adrift after Yoon’s impeachment, the PPP is facing the unthinkable: loss of support in its long-time base. 

India’s Multialignment Test: Everything, Everywhere All at Once

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 16:04
The convergence of multiple theaters, crises, and strategic conversations at once makes this perhaps the most consequential test of India’s multialignment strategy.

Why Rafale ICD Access Is Critical for India’s Defense Ambitions

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 15:19
India’s push for domestic defense production is running up against suppliers’ reluctance to transfer technology and key data.

An Old Turn in Kazakhstan’s Newest Party?

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 14:52
Rumors link Dariga Nazarbayeva to Adilet.

Chinese Experts Read the Trump-Xi Summit as a Power-Shift Moment

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 14:51
A survey of 50 Chinese-language commentaries published around the summit shows the trip being described as a paradigmatic shift.

How Mizo Rebels Hoodwinked Indian and Pakistani Intelligence Agencies

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 10:29
In his autobiography, Zoramthanga details how MNF rebels procured multiple Pakistani passports and how they escaped from a safehouse in New Delhi

BJP Victory in West Bengal Intensifies ‘Push-in’ Anxieties in Bangladesh

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 09:13
Over 80 percent of India’s border with Bangladesh now falls under the direct rule of the BJP, which thrives on anti-migrant rhetoric.

Myanmar’s National Unity Government: Winning the Moral Argument, but Running Out of Time

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 08:52
The region is slowly but surely moving toward normalization of the new-look military government.

What the Indonesia Investment Authority Did in 2025

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 08:36
When it was founded in 2021, it was not clear exactly what the purpose of the state investment fund was. Last year, the picture started to become more clear

Philippine Supreme Court Rejects Fugitive Senator’s Challenge to ICC Arrest Warrant

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 04:17
The decision opens the way for the arrest for the senator, who is wanted by the ICC for his role in leading former President Rodrigo Duterte's violent anti-drug campaign.

Indonesian President Announces Plan to Centralize Control of Key Commodity Exports

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 02:20
The move is likely to unsettle international investors already concerned about the uncertain trajectory of economic policymaking under Prabowo.

Is 2026 the Year of Booming Central Asia-Africa Relations?

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 21:29
There has been a curious uptick in Central Asia-Africa relations this year, led by Kyrgyzstan.

Kazakhstan’s Turkic Relations Between Trade, Culture, and Defense

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 20:19
During last week’s visit by multiple leaders of Turkic states to Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev celebrated their shared cultural heritage but remained reluctant on the expansion of defense cooperation.

What Actually Caused the Latest Submarine Cut Near Taiwan?

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 18:20
A cable linking Matsu Island to Taiwan was severed – again. And again, Chinese vessels were operating in the area. 

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