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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: 5 days 10 hours ago

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.

Japan’s Forgotten Deployment to the Middle East

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 19:15
Tokyo should take two-step approach to support safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz, starting by leveraging its existing force in the region.

5 Years Since UK Parliament Recognized the Uyghur Genocide, There’s Been Little Policy Action 

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 18:55
Britain recognized a genocide, then did nothing to stop it.

Strategic Autonomy or a Pro-US Tilt? India’s Foreign Policy Under Pressure

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 18:32
The Iran war is forcing India to confront the tension between strategic autonomy and its commitment to the Indo-Pacific framework. 

China Never Actually Removed Homosexuality From Its Official List of Mental Disorders

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 17:09
On the 25th anniversary of the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders Version 3 (CCMD-3), we revisit the widely repeated claim that China “removed” homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 2001 – and make the case for retiring it.

The BRICS Climate Stress Test: India’s Opportunity to Reshape Global Climate Finance Architecture

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 17:01
BRICS is a climate-critical grouping whether it chooses to be or not.

Why China’s Internet Is Reopening the Case Against the ‘Qin System’ of the First Emperor

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 16:39
In niche corners of the Chinese internet, discussions of the very first dynasty stand in for critiques of today’s China.

Bangladesh’s Air Power: Intentions Meet a Widening Capability Gap

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 15:32
The Bangladesh Air Force risks becoming a paper tiger, if it isn’t already. 

The China-US Clash Over Critical Minerals Is an Opportunity for Kazakhstan 

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 14:54
Amid China-U.S. competition over critical minerals, Kazakhstan is positioned to become a key partner for Washington. 

Why China Treats ‘Lying Flat’ as a National Security Threat

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 14:48
It's not about the economy at all: In a system that defines not struggling as a crime, opting out is a public offense.

Are the Ryukyu Islands an Overlooked Flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific? 

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 14:46
Considerable attention has been paid to the threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, but analysts have arguably overlooked a more immediate danger facing the Ryukyu Island chain.

The Real Role of a Trump-Xi Meeting

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 14:12
The summit is unlikely to deliver decisive breakthroughs. Instead, its importance lies in how it helps manage competition under pressure.

Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Bet to Reach Carbon Neutrality

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 14:07
Despite plans to go from zero to four nuclear power plants by 2050, Kazakhstan’s strategy comes with significant challenges.

Malaysia’s Tech Talent Shortage

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 11:47
Industry leaders describe a war for talent.

The Philippines Joins Washington’s Pax Silica

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 07:59
It's clear what the United States is getting out of its new critical minerals initiative, but less obvious how Manila stands to gain from it.

When Myanmar Exported Federalism

Fri, 01/05/2026 - 05:54
After World War II, Burma helped design a federal constitution for Ethiopia and Eritrea, while fighting a civil war with ethnic minorities demanding the same at home.

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