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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 10 hours ago

What the Indonesia Investment Authority Did in 2025

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 08:36
When it was founded in 2021, it was not clear exactly what the purpose of the state investment fund was. Last year, the picture started to become more clear

Philippine Supreme Court Rejects Fugitive Senator’s Challenge to ICC Arrest Warrant

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 04:17
The decision opens the way for the arrest for the senator, who is wanted by the ICC for his role in leading former President Rodrigo Duterte's violent anti-drug campaign.

Indonesian President Announces Plan to Centralize Control of Key Commodity Exports

Thu, 21/05/2026 - 02:20
The move is likely to unsettle international investors already concerned about the uncertain trajectory of economic policymaking under Prabowo.

Is 2026 the Year of Booming Central Asia-Africa Relations?

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 21:29
There has been a curious uptick in Central Asia-Africa relations this year, led by Kyrgyzstan.

Kazakhstan’s Turkic Relations Between Trade, Culture, and Defense

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 20:19
During last week’s visit by multiple leaders of Turkic states to Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev celebrated their shared cultural heritage but remained reluctant on the expansion of defense cooperation.

What Actually Caused the Latest Submarine Cut Near Taiwan?

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 18:20
A cable linking Matsu Island to Taiwan was severed – again. And again, Chinese vessels were operating in the area. 

The Duet of Command: Key Operational Issues for OPCON Transfer

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 16:06
The question is no longer whether to transfer OPCON, but how to design the alliance’s command structure and capabilities so that the post-transfer combined defense posture is demonstrably more efficient and more powerful.

India’s GDP Revisions Explained: What Changed and Why it Matters

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 15:39
India has revised its methodology for measuring economic growth after a decade. Better calculations matter, but the real test lies in how policymakers interpret them, and turn them into decisions that shape everyday life.

India Just Signed Its Most Consequential Chip Deal. The Hard Part Starts Now.

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 15:24
The Tata-ASML MoU puts India inside the world’s most exclusive technology partnership, but Beijing still controls the inputs used to make chips.

Australia’s Submarine Problems

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 15:00
In 2009, the Australian government recognized the need to replace its aging Collins-class submarines. What followed has been a mess of indecision, changing plans, and squandered opportunities.

Operationalizing Indo-Pacific Defense and Deterrence

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 14:38
Insights from Kimberly Lehn.

How China Built a Closure That Cannot Leak

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 14:22
Four mechanical seals, an asymmetric one-way valve, and a 2,200-year social foundation make the 2026 closure airtight in a way no previous closure has been.

ADB’s Commitment to Zero Tolerance on Reprisals Meets Uzbekistan’s Reality of Fear and Silence

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 14:04
Safeguards exist on paper, but are development banks prepared to confront the political realities that prevent those safeguards from functioning in practice?

The Price of Collusion: Why Sri Lanka Needs a New Approach to Debt Governance

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 11:25
By empowering local actors and fostering genuine competition, Sri Lanka can ensure that its debt serves the nation’s future, rather than the interests of a well-connected few.

How South Asia’s Uprisings Are Reshaping Party Politics — And What Bangladesh Gets Wrong

Wed, 20/05/2026 - 06:47
Nepal and Sri Lanka responded to comparable uprisings by redesigning the rules of the game. Bangladesh removed the opposing team from the field and called it a victory.

1 Year Later, Deported Bhutanese Refugees Feel the Psychological Toll of Statelessness

Tue, 19/05/2026 - 20:38
Bhutanese deportees in South Asia are confronting worsening mental health conditions as prolonged statelessness, family separation, and lack of legal protection deepen psychological distress.

The Geopolitical Circumstances of Japan-South Korea Rapprochement

Tue, 19/05/2026 - 18:02
The latest Lee-Takaichi summit highlighted not only their warm personal rapport but their priorities: energy and economic security.

What Does a ‘Constructive’ China-US Relationship Mean for India?

Tue, 19/05/2026 - 17:31
As things stand, Trump’s hopes for a G-2 remain elusive. This leaves New Delhi with enough room to maneuver diplomatically.

Tibet’s Erasure From the Trump-Xi Summit Is a Huge Win for China

Tue, 19/05/2026 - 17:12
At least since the 1980s, American leaders visiting Beijing were traditionally expected to raise the Tibetan issue during bilateral meetings. Not anymore.

The US Is Quietly Torpedoing Its Relationship With Pacific Island Partners

Tue, 19/05/2026 - 16:08
The Trump administration’s actions – or lack thereof – in its dealings with the FAS are undermining U.S. interests in the Pacific.

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