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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 23 hours ago

Thailand’s Independent Institutions Have Lost All Credibility

Fri, 25/09/2026 - 07:47
The institutions created by the “People’s Constitution” of 1997 have become tools of the country's political and economic elite.

Vietnam, Canada Announce Establishment of Strategic Partnership

Fri, 25/09/2026 - 07:22
As middle powers reliant on international order that is in a state of disarray, Hanoi and Ottawa believe they have a lot to gain from deeper collaboration.

Bangladesh’s Youth-led NCP Struggles for an Independent Identity in Jamaat’s Shadow

Fri, 25/09/2026 - 04:02
As part of a Jamaat-led alliance, the NCP secured a place in parliament. However, it needs to prove it is an independent force.

What Lies Behind the Rise in Anti-Israel Sentiment in Thailand?

Fri, 25/09/2026 - 03:07
Nationalist rabble-rousers have accused Israelis of trying to seize Thai territory, and Israeli tourists of misbehaving or disrespecting the country's culture.

Cambodian Authorities Investigating Scamming Sites Linked to Sanctioned Tycoons, Senior Official Says

Fri, 25/09/2026 - 02:46
Phnom Penh is trying to address criticisms that the current anti-scam campaign is more about reputation management than full accountability.

Can a Network of Miniature Sponge Cities Help Central Asia Curb Climate Change?

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 21:37
In lieu of decisive regulatory action and funding, much of the work of adapting to new climate realities falls on individual gardeners and cooperatives.

The Story of Bhutan’s UN Membership

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 17:36
55 years ago, Bhutan joined the United Nations – with a rare show of support from bitter rivals. 

Who Is Indigenous? The Politics of Tribal Identity Terminology in India and Bangladesh

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 17:23
Tribal people in South Asia prefer being called adivasi or original inhabitants, but nationalist forces in India and Bangladesh oppose it for different reasons.

India’s Semiconductor Journey: Old Designer, New Producer

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 16:15
India already has the design talent; what it needs is to turn this talent into Indian-owned companies, and to build the supplier base its fabs lack.

Constitutional Reform as the Lee Jae-myung Administration’s Political Watershed

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 15:31
South Koreans have long discussed changing the way the presidency is set up. Should it – and can it – happen now?

Takaichi’s Pre-emptive Diplomacy: What Japan Needs From the Trump-Xi Summit

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 14:43
Prime Minister Takaichi made Tokyo’s concerns clear to Trump before Xi Jinping arrived in Washington. Will that actually impact the summit?

Delivered to the Wrong Address? F-35 Parts Re-routed to Hong Kong

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 14:15
The F-35 is a supremely advanced fighter aircraft with many proprietary components that would be of immense value to several foreign intelligence services. It is also a consumer product.

In India, Death Sentences Are Mostly the Result of Arbitrary Exercise of Judicial Power

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 06:57
Recently, a district judge awarded 23 death sentences in ten cases over a span of four months.

Burmese Refugees in Thailand Face Fresh Deportation Threat

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 06:43
A recently-passed law increases the risk that people fleeing repression will be deported and forcibly recruited into the military’s units of "one-way troops."

Grand Strategic Compatibility: The Basis of The Japan-Vietnam Partnership

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 06:24
The quick pace of reconciliation between Tokyo and Hanoi since the end of the Cold War has reflected the compatibility of their respective grand strategies.

Cambodian Beauty Pageant Acknowledges Mistaken Use of Thai Historical Photograph

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 04:11
The unresolved border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has given rise to a rash of online disputes over cultural "ownership."

166 Civil Society Groups Urge Halt to Malaysia’s Rohingya Deportation Plan

Thu, 24/09/2026 - 02:58
The organizations expressed “grave concern” about the repatriation of refugees to Myanmar, citing the risks of violent persecution and forced conscription.

Rare Earths at the Trump-Xi Summit: Relief Without a Resolution

Wed, 23/09/2026 - 18:18
The Trump-Xi meeting may temporarily ease anxiety over rare earth supplies, but it is unlikely to lower the political and regulatory threshold for access.

Will the World Ever Take Action on Myanmar?

Wed, 23/09/2026 - 17:53
The evidence of atrocities is there. What are governments prepared to do with that knowledge?

Xi Jinping Is Coming to the US. Why Is He Skipping the UNGA?

Wed, 23/09/2026 - 17:08
Xi’s coming to the U.S. East Coast while the United Nations’ biggest event is going on. That makes his absence all the more striking.

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