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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: 6 hours 12 min ago

Singapore, New Zealand Agree to Keep Vital Supplies Flowing in Times of Crisis

Tue, 05/05/2026 - 05:32
The Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies, which was agreed in October, is the world’s first legally-binding bilateral supply chain resilience agreement.

Indonesia, Japan Sign New Defense Agreement, Eye Possible Arms Transfers

Tue, 05/05/2026 - 03:27
With the recent removal of its longstanding ban on lethal arms exports, Tokyo is set to become an active defense industry player in Southeast Asia.

From Consensus to Consequence: Rethinking ASEAN’s Myanmar Approach 

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 18:32
The self-admitted failure of ASEAN’s “Five-Point Consensus” demands an escalatory response. 

Will Any Central Asian Leaders Head to Moscow for Victory Day 2026?

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 18:22
With the celebration expected to be toned down under possible threat of Ukrainian drone strikes, fewer foreign dignitaries are expected.

What Orban’s 16-Year China Experiment Reveals About Europe

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 15:56
Orban amplified and politicized Hungary’s China ties, but the deeper drivers behind them extend well beyond one illiberal leader.

The Contradictions Shaping Japan’s Russia Policy 

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 15:34
Will Japan’s Russia policy shift again – or settle into ambiguity?

Uzbekistan Aims to Expand Extremism Law and Grow List of Extremist Crimes

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 15:14
In an attempt to further control religious expression, Uzbekistan has updated its blacklist of extremist sites and drafted a law to expand the list of related crimes. 

In India, Medical Titles Debate Raises Public Health Concerns

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 14:58
A landmark case and recent judicial ruling highlight tensions between healthcare access, professional titles, and risks of quackery undermining public health.

What China’s AI Push Can Teach Africa About the Future of Labor

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 14:52
China’s 2026 Two Sessions suggest that AI and robotics are not simply eliminating jobs. They are reshaping labor demand unevenly.

Kim Jong Un Was Right – and Everyone Else Is Taking Notes

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 14:27
The war in Iran, alongside the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has vindicated North Korea’s mantra: nuclear weapons are the only guarantee of sovereignty. 

How a Political Odd Couple Finally Brought Japan and South Korea Together

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 14:09
Takakchi and Lee have the two U.S. allies on track to finally put their differences aside.

EU Delists Tajik Banks as Kyrgyzstan Feels the Heat

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 13:55
The removal of three Tajik banks from the EU sanctions list highlights diverging compliance trajectories across Central Asia.

Nepal’s Squatter Evictions Raise Due Process Concerns

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 11:38
A popularly elected government is being cheered even as it razes the homes of the most deprived and marginalized sections of Nepali society.

Marcus Mietzner on Indonesia’s Decade of Jokowi

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 11:10
Joko Widodo was the country's first leader not to hail from the military or from an elite political family. What did his 10 years in office mean for Indonesia?

Arakan Army Chief Twan Mrat Naing on Talks With the Myanmar Government, and Relations With India and Bangladesh

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 10:01
“The military government wants to negotiate from a position of strength but we will not succumb to such pressure.”

Philippine Lawmaker Plants National Flag on Disputed South China Sea Sandbar

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 07:33
According to the activist Atin Ito coalition, the early morning visit to Sandy Cay succeeded despite a "heavy Chinese presence" in the area.

Japan, Vietnam Agree to Bolster Cooperation in Energy, Critical Minerals

Mon, 04/05/2026 - 03:20
While in Hanoi, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae also laid out her revamped vision for the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy.

Perceptions Matter – Whether Cambodians Like It or Not

Sun, 03/05/2026 - 23:43
Anger over an American media report referring to the country as “Scambodia” needs to be redirected to the root cause of an old pun.

The Myth of Vietnam’s Tilt Toward China

Sun, 03/05/2026 - 23:19
Analyzing Hanoi’s foreign policy from the perspective of its relationship with a single major power misses the forest for the trees.

North Korea Puts Its Medium-Term Plan on Track

Sat, 02/05/2026 - 06:49
Unpacking the recent Congress.

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