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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 13 hours ago

The Quad Isn’t Dead. It’s Just Moved Out of the Spotlight.

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 16:27
Yes, high-level summits are on hiatus. But the group continues to function in ways that are less visible, more functional, and potentially more durable.

Mongolia Is Redefining Steppe Diplomacy With Kazakhstan

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 16:24
Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa’s recent visit to Kazakhstan forges a new model of Eurasian middle power resilience. 

China Fears the Church, America Fears the Chinese: A Chinese Christian Student Caught in Between

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 15:45
For some Chinese, studying in the U.S. is a welcome breath of freedom. But they are increasingly met not with open arms but with suspicion.

How Are Bangladesh’s Parties Allocating Reserved Women’s Seats in Parliament?

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 15:13
The BNP's nomination list reflects a pointedly inclusive approach, while Jamaat’s selections reveal its alliance with the NCP is here to stay. 

How China, Russia, and North Korea Enable Each Other’s Atrocities

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 14:54
China enables North Korean forced labor, which in turn fuels Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine.

Helping Iran, China Is a Party in the War

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 14:18
Several reports in recent weeks have revealed the extent of China’s active support for Iran.

Jakarta’s Washington Pivot

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 06:51
The recently signed Major Defense Cooperation Partnership marks the beginning of a new phase in U.S.-Indonesia security relations.

Former Philippine President Duterte to Stand Trial at ICC After Judges Confirm Charges

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 06:23
A pre-trial panel said that there were "substantial grounds" to believe that the 81-year-old was guilty of crimes against humanity linked to his violent "war on drugs."

US Government Sanctions Cambodian Senator Kok An For Involvement in Online Scams

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 02:32
The announcement was Washington's latest effort to combat Southeast Asia's multibillion-dollar online scamming industry.

Will Japan-North Korea Relations Change?

Fri, 24/04/2026 - 00:14
The government of Sanae Takaichi may need to risk its political standing.

What West Bengal’s Election Means for Bangladesh

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 22:04
The state election results stand to impact border enforcement, trade flows, and water negotiations, as well as political messaging on both sides of the border.

Kazakhstan Is Slowly Integrating UAVs Into Its Armed Forces

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 20:59
As drones prove decisive in modern warfare, Kazakhstan is working to embed them in its military while slowly making a shift toward domestic production.

Nepal’s Remittance Reckoning: The Gen Z Mandate Meets the Gulf Crisis

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 18:46
Kathmandu's new government was elected to right Nepal’s economic ship. It must now confront an external economic threat.

EU Aims Sanctions ‘Anti-circumvention Tool’ at Kyrgyzstan

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 17:30
The EU’s tool – branded as a “last resort measure” – is being used for the first time to cut off export of certain high-tech goods to Kyrgyzstan.

Spain’s China Bridge: Diplomacy or Dependency?

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 16:36
Securing a national win at the expense of a coherent EU strategy would be a self-defeating gamble for Spain.

Breaking the Postwar Taboo: Japan Lifts Its Ban on Lethal Arms Exports

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 16:19
To fully understand its significance, we must situate the Cabinet decision within both its historical context and the evolving international environment.

China and Turkmenistan Inaugurate New Phase at Galkynysh Gas Field

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 15:53
Despite consistent chatter about the need for diversification, Ashgabat has struggled to reach customers other than China given infrastructure constraints.

Pakistan Is Mediating Between Iran and the US Because It Can – and It Must

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 15:39
Increased diplomatic clout made mediation possible, but the real motivation is the potential devastation the war could cause to Pakistan itself.

China’s Naval Diplomacy Turns Back Toward Home

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 14:59
PLAN port visits within China itself are normalizing naval engagement at home and reinforcing political messaging.

A Test for Timor-Leste, and ASEAN, on Myanmar

Thu, 23/04/2026 - 14:43
Timor-Leste’s accession has created a rare opening for ASEAN to clarify whether it stands for anything more than procedural restraint. 

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