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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 15 hours ago

What Consultation Looks Like on a Cambodian Carbon Offset Project

Thu, 30/04/2026 - 06:58
A REDD+ project in the country's northeast aims to conserve forest and reduce carbon emissions, but many local residents say they know little about it and never gave their consent.

Former Thai PM Thaksin Approved for Parole, Set For Release on May 11

Thu, 30/04/2026 - 06:37
The decision could pave the way for the 76-year-old's return to politics, but the future of his Pheu Thai Party is uncertain following a poor return at this year's general election.

In the Fight Against Southeast Asia-based Scam Operations, Greater Protections and Reforms Are Needed

Thu, 30/04/2026 - 03:45
Washington has finally woken up to the scale of the challenge, but there is a lot more it can do to punish perpetrators and support victims.

Where Do Thailand-China Relations Stand in 2026?

Thu, 30/04/2026 - 03:22
This year is set to witness a flowering of relations between Bangkok and Beijing – but Thai strategists remain both ambivalent and wary.

US Court Dismisses Rohingya Hate Speech Lawsuit Against Meta

Thu, 30/04/2026 - 03:07
Plaintiffs argued that Facebook helped spread hate speech that “amounted to a substantial cause, and eventual perpetuation of, the Rohingya genocide.”

The Kissinger Tapes and China-US Rapprochement

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 17:42
Insights from Tom Wells.

Between IMF Conditions and Rising Prices, Is Sri Lanka Heading Toward Stagflation?

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 17:05
If inflation is driven primarily by rising costs rather than demand, this could undermine Sri Lanka’s fragile economic recovery.

The United States Is Losing the Race for Central Asia’s Critical Minerals 

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 17:00
Without a sustained and coordinated push, the United States risks being locked out of one of the most consequential supply chains shaping the future of global power.

Swiss Karimova Corruption Case Discontinued

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 16:29
Karimova – already serving a 13-year sentence in Uzbekistan – wasn’t allowed to attend the trial in Switzerland and as such, the judges dismissed the case on procedural grounds.

India-US Relations Hit Another Bump

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 16:14
Trump’s reposting of a podcaster’s description of India as a “hellhole” is the latest of several insults from Washington.

Thailand Walked Into Its LNG Trap With Its Eyes Open – Long Before Hormuz 

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 16:13
Bangkok’s gas bet was always going to hurt consumers. A distant conflict has merely made that reckoning impossible to defer. 

The Bangladesh-US Trade Deal Is a Litmus Test for Dhaka’s Strategic Autonomy

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 15:40
The ART is framed as a market-access deal, but its deeper clauses are geopolitical. For Bangladesh, that represents a challenge to its traditional balancing strategy.

Former Kyrgyz Security Chief Tashiev Confirms Criminal Case Against Him

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 15:08
In his statement, Tashiev urges people not to protest and "act only within the law."

China’s Sanctions Hit Europe’s Emerging Drone Doctrine

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 14:46
Several European countries have been quietly developing a new drone doctrine built on both Ukraine’s battlefield experience and Taiwan’s high-tech components. China is trying to sever that link.

Can Central Asia Finally Coordinate on Climate and Water?

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 14:23
Central Asia is not yet a fully coordinated regional actor on climate and water, but it is starting to behave like one in some areas.

Why the Pakistani President’s Visit to China Amid the West Asia Crisis Is Important

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 09:53
Zardari’s visit focused on CPEC’s second phase, exploring new avenues for bilateral trade and investment, and advancing regional connectivity.

Southeast Asia Hedging Bets and Alignment Webs Beyond the US-China Lens

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 04:50
Beyond U.S.-China competition or rules-based order anxiety, states are pursuing their own North Stars in geopolitics and geoeconomics.

Interpreting the Future of Vietnam-China Relations Through the 2026 Joint Statement

Wed, 29/04/2026 - 04:38
The recent visit to China of Vietnam's top leader To Lam could well mark a turning point in the sometimes fraught bilateral relationship.

Voices Erased: Meet Bengal’s Deleted Voters

Tue, 28/04/2026 - 20:26
A whopping 2.7 million voters have been deleted from the electoral rolls in West Bengal after the controversial SIR exercise. Here are some of their stories.

Expanding Frontiers: China’s Military Push Beyond the First Island Chain

Tue, 28/04/2026 - 16:52
Beijing has a deliberate, long-term strategy – one that prioritizes persistence and gradual advantage. 

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