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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 12 hours ago

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.

Japan’s PM Faces Gas Tax Headwinds When She Flies to Australia

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 16:01
As Australia’s biggest gas customer, Japan is alarmed by growing calls for a new tax on gas exports. Elsewhere in Asia, leaders recognize renewables can help break reliance on volatile fossil fuel supply chains.

An Opportunity or an Illusion? The Iran War and China’s Taiwan Calculus

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 15:26
The Iran war has shifted U.S. military capabilities out of the Indo-Pacific. Will Beijing try to take advantage?

Afghanistan: Evolving Role of Regional Cooperation and UNAMA

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 14:42
Afghanistan is no longer viewed exclusively as a source of risks, but increasingly as a space of opportunities, especially from Central Asia’s perspective.

Coal Is Rising in China’s Clean Energy Transition

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 14:19
China is not moving from coal to renewables in a linear transition. Instead, it is attempting to expand both simultaneously.

Bangladesh’s Parties are Divided Over the Reform Process

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 13:16
Despite a clear "yes" vote in the referendum, the BNP government is dragging its feet, prompting the opposition to protest in parliament and the streets.

Indian Navy Needs More Stringent Planning

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 10:50
The plan was to equip the navy with about 200 warships by 2027, but financial limitations dictate a more modest flotilla of just 170 vessels.

Thousands of Overseas Filipinos Celebrate Former President Duterte’s Birthday

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 07:28
Despite him facing charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC, support for the former Philippine leader remains strong among Filipinos abroad.

Southeast Asia’s Solar Panel Boom

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 06:48
It's not just about China. The world is now benefiting from historically cheap solar panels made in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Philippines Accuses China of Cyanide ‘Sabotage’ at South China Sea Shoal

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 06:22
Philippine security officials claim to have discovered plastic bottles of cyanide on Chinese boats close to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

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