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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: 10 hours 22 min ago

Pakistan’s Economic Stabilization Efforts Face Their Biggest Challenge With Iran War

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 18:59
Economic stabilization achieved over the past fiscal year, when inflation finally began to decline, could prove painfully short-lived if the crisis does not end soon.

The Kyrgyzneftegaz Case: Shairbek Tashiev Arrested

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 17:02
Shairbek, who resigned from parliament last month, had previously been questioned as a “witness" in the Kyrgyzneftgas case.

The Graveyard of Rohingya Diplomacy: Is Bangladesh Stuck in an ‘Exhaustion Trap’?

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 16:59
For almost a decade now, the gap between official progress and political reality has stalled Rohingya diplomacy.

Cobalt, Congo, and China: Battery Power as Political Power

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 15:47
Insights from Nicholas Niarchos.

Iran War Opens New Markets for Kazakhstan

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 15:24
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, Bangladesh is in a dire strait of its own and looking far afield for new energy partners, like Kazakhstan.

How Will South Korea Respond to the Iran-US Conflict?

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 15:23
Amid U.S. requests for naval involvement in the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul has three options: leveraging, minimizing, or compensating.

Between Cooperation and Control: China’s Expanding Role in Central America

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 14:36
The key question is not whether China is “exporting authoritarianism,” but how its cooperation mechanisms interact with domestic dynamics already moving in that direction.

Aijan Sharshenova on the Japarov-Tashiev Political Divorce in Kyrgyzstan

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 14:30
Put one way, the Japarov-Tashiev split is a “political divorce…  involving high stakes, such as significant assets, complex business structures, or intense custody battles.”

Indonesia’s UNIFIL Dilemma: Don’t Hand the US and Israel a Victory by Proxy

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 14:05
Withdrawing from Lebanon would undermine Indonesia’s peacekeeping credibility and ironically serve the very powers Jakarta claims to resist.

Thailand’s Brittle Defense Against Oil Shocks

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 01:27
The country is in a better position than its immediate neighbors, but the coming weeks are set to test Prime Minister Anutin's new administration.

Why Laos’ Communist Party Chose Continuity

Wed, 01/04/2026 - 00:58
With the economy still in a fragile state, the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party has decided against significant changes at the top.

China, the Philippines, and the Real Lesson of Second Thomas Shoal

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 21:55
The Provisional Understanding emerged because coercion failed to accomplish Chinese objectives at acceptable costs to Beijing.

Will Conflict in the Middle East Boost China’s Renewable Energy Sector? 

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 20:24
The war in Iran has had a profound impact on global energy markets. Could China’s long-standing renewable ambitions take a leap forward as investors look for opportunities amid the volatility? 

Ko Wen-je’s Downfall Strengthens the KMT’s Position Ahead of Key Elections

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 19:13
If the TPP ultimately fails to survive this crisis, the DPP may benefit in the long run. But in the near term, the KMT has the most to gain.

Where Do Kazakhs Get Their News?

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 16:30
A recent survey dives into the media consumption habits of Kazakhs.

Japan and South Korea’s Energy Hedge

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 16:08
For Japan and South Korea, strategic bilateral cooperation has become essential to individual energy security. 

China’s Economy Feels the Iran War Shock

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 15:40
And it was already struggling.

How Donald Trump Doubled Down on the Rhetorical Presidency in His Handling of China

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 15:08
“The Highly Respected President of China”? To better anticipate Trump’s China policy, it is essential to understand his rhetorical strategy.

Iran-Israel-US War’s Quiet Shock on India’s Fertilizer Imports

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 14:44
India must redesign its structures of dependence on external sources of fertilizer in the face of the ongoing Gulf war.

Breaking Down the Belarus-North Korea Summit

Tue, 31/03/2026 - 14:30
Lukashenko’s visit reflects a broader evolution in North Korea’s foreign policy, which is slowly expanding in the post-COVID era and is increasingly influenced by ties with the Kremlin.

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