Latest Stories
Australia Gives a Firm ‘No’ to UK-US Agreement to Advance Nuclear Technology
The Albanese government declined to join its AUKUS partners in advancing the nuclear energy industry, sparking criticism from the opposition.
International Spotlight on Bangladesh as Rohingya Leader’s Case Heads to the UN
The case of Dil Mohammed, a prominent Rohingya spokesperson currently detained by Bangladeshi authorities, will be examined by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Is China Ready for the Trump Trade War 2.0?
If China is able to seize the opportunity to revitalize its domestic economy and invigorate the multilateral system, Trump’s trade war 2.0 could end up a strategic gift to Beijing.
China’s ‘People-to-People’ Diplomacy Targets the Global South
Engagements with media, think tanks, and academia form an essential – but often overlooked – element of China's foreign policy.
Young Southeast Asians Are Slowly Nudging ASEAN Toward Change
Amid skepticism about the bloc’s ability to protect environmental and human rights, a new generation of activists remains hopeful.
Indonesia’s PLN and the Clean Energy Conundrum
The state-owned utility has allowed private companies to expand the country's generating capacity, but it may take a different approach with solar.
Most Read
The China-Japan Travel Visa Spat
Beijing wants Japan – and only Japan – to offer reciprocity.
Life in Ladakh Along the Disputed Sino-Indian Border
For Changpa women in Chushul, the 2020 clashes came during a larger societal shift in gender roles.
Did Indonesia Just Capitulate to China on the South China Sea?
Over the weekend, the two nations signed a joint development agreement that refers to "overlapping claims" in the disputed waterway.
Magazine
The United States and the Democracy Question in South Asia
The inconsistencies and contradictions in U.S. democracy promotion, are not limited to one particular administration, but to the U.S. approach as a whole.
Southeast Asia’s Semiconductor Play
Integrated circuits are acquiring ever greater currency as a geopolitical flashpoint, and this is creating a window of opportunity for countries that are eager to move up the value chain.
The State – and Fate – of America’s Indo-Pacific Alliances
China is the biggest factor behind the continued development of the U.S. alliance network – a trend that works independently of, and supersedes, any political dynamics in Washington.
Russell Hsiao on US Policies and Taiwan’s Politics
“Perhaps more so than in other countries given its unique political status, Taiwan’s voters attach greater significance to foreign policy and more precisely relations with the United States and China.”
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
China’s ‘People-to-People’ Diplomacy Targets the Global South
Engagements with media, think tanks, and academia form an essential – but often overlooked – element of China's foreign policy.
Biden, Xi Reflect on Evolutions in China-US Relations in Their Final Meeting
What Does Taiwan Think About Trump 2.0?
Does China Have a New European Ally in Slovakia’s Prime Minister?
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
Can Trump’s Tariffs Slow Down China’s Push to Lead High-tech Supply Chains?
With the incoming president's renewed threats of massive tariffs on China, it’s worth revisiting whether such policies actually achieve the desired result.
‘America First’ and Threading the Needle on Tech Sovereignty
Talks With North Korea Will be Troublesome for Trump
What the Chagos Islands Deal Means for France’s Indian Ocean Territories and Indo-Pacific Strategy
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
Prabowo’s Global Vision: Can the Indonesian Military Handle the Pressure?
The new president's ambitious defense diplomacy is placing intense operational demands on the country's armed forces.
The Risks of Oversimplifying Taiwan’s Defense Needs
The Tyranny of Distance: What Trump Needs to Know About the Japan-US Alliance
South Korea’s Deepening Dilemma Over Ukraine
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
Young Southeast Asians Are Slowly Nudging ASEAN Toward Change
Amid skepticism about the bloc’s ability to protect environmental and human rights, a new generation of activists remains hopeful.
Philippines, US Sign Military Intelligence Sharing Agreement
Myanmar Rebel Leader Has Been Detained in China, Report Says
How ASEAN’s Cybersecurity Push Could Protect People and Economies
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
International Spotlight on Bangladesh as Rohingya Leader’s Case Heads to the UN
The case of Dil Mohammed, a prominent Rohingya spokesperson currently detained by Bangladeshi authorities, will be examined by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Mauritius’ Parliamentary Elections Hold a Crucial Lesson for India
The NPP’s Rise and the Opposition’s Fall in Sri Lanka
Leftist Coalition’s Seismic Victory Reshapes Sri Lanka’s Political Landscape
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
Lee Jae-myung’s Legal Perils Could Threaten His Presidential Bid
Lee has been found guilty of violating election law, and more cases are still pending. What does this mean for the opposition leader’s political future?
How South Korea Should Prepare Before Trump Returns to the White House
North Korean Balloons and Kim Jong Un’s New Psychological Warfare
‘Kim Keon-hee Risk’ Is a Ticking Time Bomb for South Korea’s President
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
Was the Abe-Trump ‘Bromance’ a Real Thing?
There is no doubt that Abe and Trump had a genuine friendship. However, what is often overlooked was how hard Abe worked to make that a reality.
The China-Japan Travel Visa Spat
Turbulence in Japan’s Power Corridors Amid Trump’s Return
Will Japan’s Election Mark the End of Abe Diplomacy?
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
Why Does It Matter What We Call the Oppression of Afghan Women?
What we want is for the cruelty being endured by women and girls in Afghanistan to be called what it actually is: gender apartheid, and a crime against humanity.
Asia-Pacific Gen-Zers at COP29
Fossil Gas is Not Compatible With Indonesia’s Net Zero Ambitions
As 45 Activists Face Life Sentences in Hong Kong, the World Must Respond
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
Navigating the Challenging Path of Local Governance Reform in Uzbekistan
By embracing a balanced approach that empowers kengashes without undermining central oversight, Uzbekistan can foster a resilient and responsive local governance system.
Mongolia’s Prime Minister Looks to Boost All-Important Economic Ties With China
Marco Polo and the Mongol Empire’s Strategic Diplomacy
C5+Trump: Getting the US Down to Business in Central Asia
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
US-Philippine Relationship to ‘Transcend’ Changes in Administration, Austin Says
Donald Trump's impending return to the White House has stirred up questions about the future of Washington's support for the Philippines.
Trump’s Hawkish Cabinet Could Be a Stepping Stone to Future Deals With China
New Delhi’s Optimism Over Trump 2.0 Belies Underlying Fault Lines in India-US Relations
What Trump’s Presidency Means for Afghanistan and the Taliban
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
Is China Ready for the Trump Trade War 2.0?
If China is able to seize the opportunity to revitalize its domestic economy and invigorate the multilateral system, Trump’s trade war 2.0 could end up a strategic gift to Beijing.
Indonesia’s PLN and the Clean Energy Conundrum
Thailand to Begin Phase 2 of ‘Digital Wallet’ Stimulus in January
The IMF Sends Laos a Reality Check Over Its Finances
Oceania
The South Pacific
Australia Gives a Firm ‘No’ to UK-US Agreement to Advance Nuclear Technology
The Albanese government declined to join its AUKUS partners in advancing the nuclear energy industry, sparking criticism from the opposition.
Australia Holds the Key to a Fair Deal for Timor-Leste
The Treaty Principles Bill Is Already Straining Social Cohesion in New Zealand
How the Pacific Voted in the US Election
Videos
Asia on Video
What’s Driving Taiwan’s Mass Protests?
Chiang Min-yen, a non-resident fellow at the Taiwan Economic Democracy Union, joins The Diplomat to discuss the concerns over the bill, the China factor, and what comes next.
What’s Behind Vietnam’s Political Upheaval?
The Danger of China’s Digital Silk Road
What Will China’s Shift From Oil Mean for Saudi Arabia and Russia?
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
Life in Ladakh Along the Disputed Sino-Indian Border
For Changpa women in Chushul, the 2020 clashes came during a larger societal shift in gender roles.