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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: 3 days 23 hours ago

Afghanistan’s Return Crisis: Why Sending People Back Is Not a Durable Solution

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 14:43
The shift in policies from protection to return assumes that return represents a durable solution.

Lee Pushes AI Investment in Silicon Valley and Turns to South American Minerals

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 14:39
The South Korean president secured semiconductor pledges in San Francisco before turning to trade and mineral agreements in Brazil and Chile. 

Tajikistan Denies a Clothing Ban Its Police Keep Enforcing

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 14:05
A rumor with one traceable source drew an official rebuttal in Dushanbe that buried its documented enforcement.

Johor State Election 2026: Decoding Peninsular Malaysian Politics

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 10:26
The Johor state election does not automatically presage a nationwide BN sweep because the results are heavily steeped in Johor's unique local context.

South Asia’s Smaller States Push to Revive SAARC — Again

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 10:17
Will the region’s perpetually squabbling siblings -- India and Pakistan -- put aside their insecurities to make regional cooperation happen?

Japan’s Intelligence Reform Has a Counterintelligence Problem

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 09:53
As the Takaichi administration strives to strengthen Japan’s intelligence capabilities, it’s important to build up counterintelligence capabilities too.

Transaction or Transformation? Inside the Russia-North Korea Relationship

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 09:08
How transactional is the massive shift in their relations and how sensitive is it to the Ukraine war?

For the Arakan Army, Recognition Must Be Earned

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 08:50
The Arakan Army’s quest for international recognition should be tied to Rohingya rights and accountability.

Why the Bangsamoro Peace Process Still Depends on Trust

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 06:34
Elections set for September 14 will mark an important step forward, but the peace process will continue for long after the ballots have been counted.

Thailand Cracks Down on USDT Transactions in Fight Against China-linked Criminal Networks

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 06:18
Bangkok has been evolving toward measures that target the financial infrastructure used by region-spanning criminal networks.

EU Announces New Sanctions Targeting Southeast Asia-Based Online Scam Networks

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 06:01
Cambodia's Prince Holding Group and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, a Myanmar-based rebel group, were among the targeted groups.

US Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington Arrives in Vietnam on Friendship Visit

Fri, 31/07/2026 - 02:41
The port call, the fourth by a U.S. carrier group since 2018, is a sign that relations between Washington and Hanoi remain healthy, despite ongoing trade tensions.

Mongolia Signs Fuel Deal With South Korea

Thu, 30/07/2026 - 19:51
South Korea is now becoming a key guarantor of stability for Mongolian gas stations and aviation.

What the Reopening of Nathu La Means for China-India Relations

Thu, 30/07/2026 - 19:05
Some practical cooperation is being restored between the two neighbors, despite the serious differences that remain.

Redesigning International Order for a G-Minus World

Thu, 30/07/2026 - 18:31
This is the age of hyper-multipolarity, where every plausible steering group is missing something essential.

North Korea Needs China and Russia – But Doesn’t Want Its People Admiring Them

Thu, 30/07/2026 - 18:09
Pyongyang’s strict ideological controls apply to perceptions of its allies as well as to “hostile states” like the United States.

Why Did China Test a Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile?

Thu, 30/07/2026 - 16:23
July 6 was the first time that China has launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile into international waters.

Europe’s China Strategy Is Ready for a Refresh 

Thu, 30/07/2026 - 14:23
EU leaders have an opportunity to stop treating repression as a side issue and instead make human rights more central to their engagement with China.

Resilience at the Heart of Australia-Singapore Ties

Thu, 30/07/2026 - 13:42
At the 15th Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee this week, the two sides emphasized resilience across sectors, from defense to trade.

Can Southeast Asia Overcome the Middle-Income Trap?

Thu, 30/07/2026 - 10:01
Southeast Asian nations won’t overcome the middle-income trap unless predatory elites stop undermining education and R&D.

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