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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 48 min ago

Asia’s Tigers Benefit When Scientists Collaborate Beyond Borders 

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 20:09
Asia’s most iconic species makes an ‘improbable return’ in the forests of Russia and China. 

NATO’s Asia-Pacific Engagement Does Not Impress China 

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 17:04
Chinese analysts talk tough but see NATO as divided and European states as lacking hard power – and Trump is making it worse.

An Interview With Tarique Rahman – Likely Bangladesh’s Next Prime Minister

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 16:37
“We will establish the power of the people – this is my commitment,” the BNP leader tells The Diplomat.

Spheres of Influence Are Officially Back – and China Stands to Gain

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 15:57
We are seeing the return of overt geopolitics: a style of major power politics that does not bother to hide behind international law or multilateral norms. That’s good news for China – and bad news for Taiwan.

Rifts Deepen Between South Korea’s President and Ruling Party

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 15:08
President Lee Jae-myung criticized the DP for slowrolling his agenda, and pro-Lee supporters’ anger toward party leader Jung Cheong-rae has snowballed.

The Economics of Biodiversity Loss: Implications for Asia and the Pacific

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 14:46
Nature provides essential inputs to the economy through ecosystem services. In Asia and the Pacific, accelerating biodiversity loss is eroding these services, increasing vulnerability to shocks, and creating new risks for investors and governments.

Central Asians Persecuted at Home, Unwelcome in the EU

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 14:35
European governments present themselves as global defenders of human rights. Yet for many dissidents fleeing repression in Central Asia, Europe has become not a refuge, but another link in the chain of persecution.

Taiwan Just Cut a Trade Deal With the US. Is that Good or Bad News?

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 14:01
The murky trade deal – like all aspects of Taiwan-U.S. relations – has become a battleground issue between the pan-Green and pan-Blue camps.

How Political Patronage and Official Apathy Led to Encroachment of Government Land in India’s Border State of Assam

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 11:40
Encroachers belong to different communities, including local groups in some instances, but many are Muslim immigrants from erstwhile East Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Indonesia’s Stock Market Sell-Off, Explained

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 06:18
Last week, the IHSG Composite Index plunged by 8 percent, wiping out an estimated $80 billion in market value.

Political Activists File Fresh Impeachment Complaints Against Philippine Vice President

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 02:46
After surviving an impeachment attempt last year, Sara Duterte has once again been accused of corruption and betraying the public's trust.

Timor-Leste Opens Legal Proceedings Against Myanmar’s Military Junta

Tue, 03/02/2026 - 01:04
A human rights group representing the Chin ethnic minority last month submitted a legal complaint in Dili accusing the military of a litany of abuses.

Machines in the Alleyways: China’s Bet on Autonomous Urban Warfare

Mon, 02/02/2026 - 21:08
PLA-linked research indicates a concerted attempt to develop lethal, autonomous drone swarms specifically for urban warfare, with Taiwan in mind. The results could be catastrophic.

Will Drug Policies in Asia Make a Turn Toward Human Rights in 2026?

Mon, 02/02/2026 - 17:05
Looking back at the past decade, positive measures were significantly outweighed by the brutal violence exacted by drug policies in the region.

Nvidia’s H200 Chips Re-enter China – But Beijing Isn’t Giving up on Huawei

Mon, 02/02/2026 - 16:31
Even with controlled access to H200 chips, China will continue to incentivize the growth of domestic chipmakers.

China’s New Viral App Asks: Are You Dead? 

Mon, 02/02/2026 - 15:20
Demumu’s success reveals a complex reality of solo living and changing social ties.

Record Trade Surplus Masks China’s Underlying Economic Weakness

Mon, 02/02/2026 - 14:54
China’s world-leading export surplus delivered headline growth in 2025, but slowing domestic demand, falling prices and doubts over data credibility point to an economy losing momentum beneath the surface.

CSTO Sends Weapons to Tajikistan to Secure Afghan Border

Mon, 02/02/2026 - 14:32
The decision to arm Tajikistan's border troops comes after months of cross-border attacks, but the CSTO's track record gives little reason for confidence.

What Justice Looks Like for Rohingya Women

Mon, 02/02/2026 - 13:50
For Rohingya women, the question is not whether violence can be legally defined or classified, but whether such naming alters the material conditions of their lives.

Moving the Australia-India Maritime Partnership Forward Through Coast Guard Cooperation

Mon, 02/02/2026 - 10:27
Institutionalizing engagements across their coast guard agencies can help strengthen the maritime security architecture of the Indo-Pacific.

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