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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: 9 hours 26 min ago

China’s Military Threats Against Taiwan Scare the World – But Not Taiwanese People

Mon, 09/03/2026 - 13:06
The world looks at the PLA maneuvers and thinks of World War 3. Taiwanese, for the most part, think: “same old, same old.”

Balendra Shah’s Landslide Electoral Victory Reshapes Nepali Politics

Mon, 09/03/2026 - 13:03
Whether the RSP can deliver on its many promises remains to be seen. But one thing is already clear: The March 5 election has fundamentally changed Nepali politics. 

All in the Family: Citizenship, Crime, and Plausible Deniability in Cambodia

Mon, 09/03/2026 - 02:42
From Hun Sen’s watch to Hun To’s boardroom ties, new naturalization records complicate Hun Manet’s narrative of ignorance.

What Jimmy Lai’s 20-Year Sentence Means for Hong Kong’s International Status

Sun, 08/03/2026 - 23:57
The erosion of press freedom is altering perceptions of the city as a global hub.

The US Strikes on Iran Are a Reminder to China: Power Is Power

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 20:16
Beijing has built a Middle East strategy centered on influence without military presence. The sudden Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran proved the hard limits of that approach.

China Really Thinks It Is Just Defending Itself

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 18:39
That’s what makes it so dangerous.

South Korea and the Philippines Expand Ties in Nuclear Energy and Critical Minerals

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 18:38
By expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia, South Korea seeks to share its expertise and deepen collaboration in key sectors.

Why China Is Closely Watching US Congressional Support for the Iran War

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 17:05
Republican support for the war may not be as solid as it appears – and that could have implications for a U.S. intervention in Taiwan.

‘Like a Startled Crow’: The Precarious Life of Women Amid Myanmar’s Polycrisis

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 16:22
For many women in Myanmar, conjoined economic and security crises mean never being able to let their guard down and never being able to think more than “one day at a time.”

Coupang’s Data Breach and the Urgency of Data Governance Reform in South Korea

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 16:01
Why did the Coupang case escalate from a domestic regulatory matter into an international trade issue?

Hong Kong Is Beijing’s New ‘Vanguard’ in the Contest for Financial Sovereignty

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 14:48
Beijing is formally repositioning Hong Kong from a neutral intermediary between Chinese and global capital into a “vanguard” of the state’s financial security architecture.

Lee Jae-myung Is a New Kind of President – and South Koreans Approve

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 14:24
Lee has redefined the South Korean executive by trading imperial secrecy for radical transparency and focusing on tangible results.

India and Canada Reset: Pragmatism Takes Precedence Over Recriminations

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 14:20
Carney has opted for energetic, pragmatic action – including repairing ties with India – in the face of U.S. instability.

Counterterrorism Expert Ajmal Sohail on Pakistan’s ISI Targeting the Chinese in Afghanistan

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 14:18
“By undermining Chinese projects [in Afghanistan], the ISI seeks to remind Beijing that Pakistan remains a critical gatekeeper for regional connectivity, especially through CPEC.”

As Tehran Burns, South Asia Trembles

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 12:01
The U.S.-Israel war on Iran is testing South Asia’s energy security, remittance economies, and sectarian equilibrium — all at once.

‘Kyi Pyar-Gate’ Rocks Myanmar’s National Unity Government

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 08:47
A high-profile corruption case in the country's umbrella resistance organization has drawn backlash – and claims of divisive politics.

Philippines Arrests 3 Defense Personnel Over China Spy Claims

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 04:59
The three arrested individuals reportedly relayed sensitive information to Beijing, including details of Philippine resupply missions in the South China Sea.

In Hindsight: Madame Nhu and the American War in Vietnam

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 01:00
Tran Le Xuan, South Vietnam's "first lady," was passionate in her support of the southern republic – and a fierce critic of American involvement in Indochina.

Thai Election Commission Certifies Remaining Parliamentary Seats

Fri, 06/03/2026 - 00:49
With 499 of 500 seats now certified, the newly elected parliament will convene to select a new prime minister within 15 days.

Beijing’s Balkan Classrooms

Thu, 05/03/2026 - 20:14
While Confucius Institutes are closing across parts of Western Europe, China has found a more welcoming political environment in the Balkans.

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