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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: 1 day 2 hours ago

China’s Taiwan Calculus Ahead of the Trump-Xi Summit

Thu, 16/04/2026 - 15:55
Beijing is not seeking a breakthrough on Taiwan at the Trump-Xi summit, but rather incremental gains that could gradually weaken Taiwan-U.S. ties.

PPP’s Chief Holds Meetings in Washington While His Party Faces Ruin at Home

Thu, 16/04/2026 - 15:23
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok’s Washington trip reveals more about his internal survival strategy than any genuine foreign policy agenda.

China’s Definition of an ‘Evil Cult’ Is Expanding Beyond Religious Groups

Thu, 16/04/2026 - 14:53
“Create Abundance” is not, in any conventional sense, a religion. For that reason, its persecution signals a dangerous expansion of China’s ideological control.

A New Dataset Maps Central Asia’s Extractive Economy

Thu, 16/04/2026 - 14:38
An open-access dataset from the Oxus Society maps more than $118 billion in resource exports across the five Central Asian republics, offering a rare quantitative window into the region’s shifting place in Eurasian supply chains.

Nepal’s New PM Balendra Shah Faces First Diplomatic Test With Upcoming India Visit

Thu, 16/04/2026 - 12:14
In New Delhi, he will not want to be seen to be too close to “big brother” India so early in his tenure.

If Awami League Can Be Banned, Why Not the Jamaat on the Same Charges?

Thu, 16/04/2026 - 12:02
The Jamaat-e-Islami was complicit in the genocide of 3 million people in 1971. Why is that not reason enough for the BNP government to ban it?

Sri Lanka’s Fertility Fall May Outlast Its Economic Recovery

Thu, 16/04/2026 - 11:35
The country will need to prepare for the consequences of sustained low fertility rates.

AI Moves Fast. Southeast Asia’s Cybersecurity Policy Doesn’t.

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 20:18
Anthropic’s Mythos Preview exposes a widening gap between accelerating AI-enabled threats and Southeast Asia’s capacity to respond — and the window to act is closing.

How China Is Positioning Itself Ahead of the Trump–Xi Summit

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 19:53
Beijing is working subtly to shape the regional environment ahead of the meeting – and take advantage of Washington’s focus on the Iran war.

India Mulls Deployment of Crocodiles and Snakes at Border with Bangladesh

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 17:16
The plan was discussed even as Indian and Bangladeshi diplomats are working to reset bilateral relations.

Bangladesh at the Crossroads: Renewables or Imported Fuel Chaos

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 16:49
The energy crisis is hitting Bangladesh’s 177 million people hard. Experts have been urging the government to end dependence on imported coal and gas in favor of reliable renewables.

The Christian Roots of Kimilsungism

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 16:43
Insights from Jonathan Cheng.

Why the US Needs the PROSPER in the Pacific Act

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 15:54
“If the United States is serious about a stable and resilient Indo-Pacific, it must act to strengthen its economic relationships” with the Pacific Islands, argues U.S. Rep. Ed Case.

South Korea’s Harder Line on Israel Amid Energy Shock

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 15:36
It’s not just about Israel: Seoul is signaling political confidence and a growing readiness to shape its own external posture separately from the United States.

Officer Charged in 2024 Suicide of Young Kazakh Conscript

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 15:35
The charging of the officer comes amid increased scrutiny of the deaths of Kazakh soldiers, often quite young, during peacetime.

Amid the Hormuz Crisis, Indonesia Rewrites Its Energy Playbook

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 15:15
Through summit diplomacy and state visits, Prabowo is widening Indonesia’s options across oil, gas, minerals, industrial inputs, and energy transition technologies.

China’s $4.5 Billion Headache: The Niger-Benin Pipeline and the Limits of Non-Interference

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 14:53
The question is no longer whether Beijing is meddling in African affairs, but how much longer it can pretend that it isn’t. 

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.

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