Latest Stories
In Uzbekistan, a Soviet Perspective on Media Lingers
Uzbekistan’s prosecutor general has urged media to reply only on official sources of information in relation to the recent assassination attempt. The problem is, officially, very little has been said.
‘Our Nuclear Childhood’: Life After the Nuclear Tests in Kiribati
Two sisters who witnessed H-bomb tests over their Pacific island and are still coming to terms with the fallout.
India’s BJP Government Proposes Legislation to ‘Take Over’ Muslim Charitable Properties
Proposed amendments to the Wakf Act will increase government regulation of the composition and function of Wakf Boards, which administer these properties.
Why Indonesia’s Path to Net Zero Requires Urgent Action at COP29
Despite Jakarta's ambitious climate commitments, its domestic policies and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) will fall short of phasing out coal.
Indonesia’s Prabowo to Visit China, US on First Foreign Trip
The new president will embark on a five-nation overseas tour that will also take him to Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
Malaysian Court Rules Evidence Sufficient for Second 1MDB Trial to Proceed
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been ordered to enter his defense against four charges of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering.
Most Read
South Korean Women Have Another Digital Sex Crime to Worry About: Deepfake Porn
Weak protections in cases of sexual violence, whether physical or digital, and deeply entrenched misogyny in society create a toxic environment for Korean women.
Johor and Malaysia’s Data Center Boom
A massive ramp-up in data centers is attracting foreign investment, but infrastructure challenges persist.
What Does the Chinese Public Think of the China-India Border Patrol Deal?
The first public reactions to the border agreement reflect a deep suspicion of New Delhi’s “cheap tricks” and fear that Beijing is being naive.
Magazine
How Jokowi Conquered Indonesian Politics
He’s long been the most popular politician in the country. But will his 10 years in power leave a lasting legacy?
Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Conundrum
What is true and not in the arguments for and against nuclear power in Kazakhstan? Why does Russia loom so large in this debate? And is the government listening to the people?
The 75-Year Quest to Make China Great Again
On the surface, there is little that connects Xi Jinping’s PRC to that of Mao and Deng. But a closer examination of Xi’s rejuvenation strategy reveals an enduring set of political and economic principles and a high degree of policy continuity.
Moonis Ahmar on the Future of Bangladesh-Pakistan Relations
“Pakistan’s alignment with the BNP or Jamaat has always been counterproductive.”
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
Taiwan’s Shrinking Footprint in Africa Amid Chinese Pressure
South Africa recently told Taiwan to move its unofficial embassy from Pretoria to Johannesburg.
The US Risks Losing to China in the Race to Send People Back to the Moon’s Surface
China Tries to Blot out Tibetan Criticism of Mining Firm’s Damage to the Environment
The Resumption of China-US Military Dialogue and the Limits of the Thaw
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
BRICS Summit Was a Vote of Support for Global Governance Reform, Not for Russia
Ideological politics is not on the agenda for these states, but economics, climate, and food security are.
Why Taiwan Should be Disheartened by Iran’s Missile Strike on Israel
Anti-Western or Non-Western? The Nuanced Geopolitics of BRICS
How Should South Korea Respond to North Korean Troops in Ukraine?
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
A Non-Weaponized Deterrence Approach to China-US Strategic Relations
Credible latent nuclear capability could be the key to preventing a China-U.S. arms race without sacrificing deterrence.
How the Indian Navy Is Expanding Its Presence in the Indo-Pacific Through ‘Goodwill Visits’
Does Ishiba’s ‘Asian NATO’ Spell Trouble for the Japan-US Alliance?
What’s Behind the China-Thailand ‘Strike-2024’ Exercise?
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
Indonesia’s Prabowo to Visit China, US on First Foreign Trip
The new president will embark on a five-nation overseas tour that will also take him to Peru, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
Malaysian Court Rules Evidence Sufficient for Second 1MDB Trial to Proceed
EU Announces Sanctions on Myanmar Militia Involved in Online Scams
In Senate Testimony, Former Philippine President Duterte Defends ‘Drug War’
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
India’s BJP Government Proposes Legislation to ‘Take Over’ Muslim Charitable Properties
Proposed amendments to the Wakf Act will increase government regulation of the composition and function of Wakf Boards, which administer these properties.
How to Better Protect Free Speech in Indian Cyberspace
The Many Obstacles in the Way of Sheikh Hasina’s Conviction
Will the West Isolate New Delhi Amid the India-Canada Row?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
‘Kim Keon-hee Risk’ Is a Ticking Time Bomb for South Korea’s President
The biggest political risk for Yoon Suk-yeol is none other than his wife and her many associated scandals, which Yoon refuses to investigate.
Can the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team Tackle North Korea’s Sanctions Evasion?
Drones Over Pyongyang? North Korea’s Official Narrative Meets Internal Skepticism
K-pop Idol Tears and International Ripples
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
How Might Japan’s Hung Parliament Affect Foreign Policy?
Whatever the result of the coalition talks currently underway, the opposition parties have more veto power than they have enjoyed in over a decade.
In ‘Exceptionally Harsh Judgement’ From Japan’s Public, LDP Loses Its Majority
The Transformation of Japanese Politics and New Japan-Taiwan Relations
Shohei Ohtani, Japan’s Baseball Ambassador
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
Why Indonesia’s Path to Net Zero Requires Urgent Action at COP29
Despite Jakarta's ambitious climate commitments, its domestic policies and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) will fall short of phasing out coal.
What Does a Woman’s Appointment as Prime Minister in Sri Lanka Teach the World About Gender Equality?
A Dark Day for Thailand: Continued Impunity for the Tak Bai Massacre
What’s Happened to Cambodia’s Thinking Class?
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
In Uzbekistan, a Soviet Perspective on Media Lingers
Uzbekistan’s prosecutor general has urged media to reply only on official sources of information in relation to the recent assassination attempt. The problem is, officially, very little has been said.
30 Year Sentence for Group 24 Leader in Tajikistan After Forced Disappearance
Uzbekistan’s Parliament Election Boosts Ruling Party
After UNGA: How Did Central Asia Address (or Not) the Russia-Ukraine Conflict?
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
Reimagining Strategic Denial in the Indo-Pacific for Contemporary Competition With China
Today the threat to U.S. interests posed by adversaries has become much more multi-faceted. The understanding of strategic denial must also evolve.
Nippon Steel’s Bid for US Steel: National Security Concerns or Political Grandstanding?
‘De-risking’ vs. ‘Strategic Decoupling’: Understanding Harris’ and Trump’s Approaches to Economic Security
The US Risks Irrelevance in Asia
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
The ‘Fab 4’ Allies Are Pushing Back on US Export Controls on China
The Dutch government will now issue independent licenses for exporting DUV Lithography machines to China.
The Philippines’ 2025 Budget, Explained
Vietnam Signs Economic Partnership Agreement With United Arab Emirates
Nobel Prize-Winning Research Highlights Cambodia’s History of Extractive Institutions
Oceania
The South Pacific
‘Our Nuclear Childhood’: Life After the Nuclear Tests in Kiribati
Two sisters who witnessed H-bomb tests over their Pacific island and are still coming to terms with the fallout.
France’s Colonial Legacy in the Pacific: A Contemporary Crisis
Could Australia’s Economy Survive Trump’s Position on China?
Climate and China Weigh on How the US Views Pacific Relations
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
Voters Show up in Record Numbers to Kick off Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections
Eight constituencies in the Jammu region and 16 from the Kashmir Valley voted on the first phase of assembly elections. Two more rounds of voting remain.