Most Read
Harris vs. Trump: Who Would You Choose?
The Diplomat wants to know what you think about the U.S. presidential election – even if you're not a U.S. voter.
The US Risks Irrelevance in Asia
Washington’s credibility problem would be easier to address if U.S. policymakers knew what they wanted in Asia (and don't say primacy; that ship has sailed).
The Politics of China’s Land Appropriation in Bhutan
China has built 22 villages and settlements within Bhutan’s customary borders. And there is no sign that Bhutan can do anything about it – or that Beijing will face any costs.
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
China’s Battle for Narratives in Africa
China has built a media network to spread information to its advantage in a region that has increasingly become a theater of great power rivalry.
A Hong Kong University Launched the World’s First Large-Scale AI Model Earth Observation Satellite
China’s Political Mobilization Challenge
Is It Too Late for China’s Israel Policy?
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
‘Not Welcome’: China’s ICBM Test Raised Alarms in the Pacific Islands
Regional leaders probably criticized China more for its ICBM test than for anything else in recent years. The U.S. should take note.
The Falklands War of 1982: Lessons for a Potential 21st Century China-US Conflict Over Taiwan
The Quad’s Coast Guard Cooperation: New Dynamics in Power Politics
How Vietnam Can Realize Its Semiconductor Ambitions
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
What’s Behind the China-Thailand ‘Strike-2024’ Exercise?
At first glance, these exercises may appear routine, following the established pattern since 2005. However, one thing sets the Strike-2024 exercises apart.
The Thai Air Force Chose a New Fighter. The More Interesting Question Is What Comes Next.
North Korea’s Nuclear Submarine Program Could Seriously Complicate a Future US War Effort
The Quad Is Quietly Adapting Methods of Security Cooperation
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
Will Indonesia’s New President be a Statesman or a Strongman?
If Indonesia is to continue shedding its historical straitjackets and keep its rise on course, the “new” Prabowo needs to show up more often than the “old” one.
Son of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew Granted Asylum in UK
Evictions and Evasions: State Involvement in Southeast Asia’s ‘Golden Era of Organized Crime’
Cambodian Court Refuses Bail For Detained Journalist Mech Dara
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
The Fall of Secular Bengali Nationalism
Post-revolution Bangladesh is undergoing a decisive ideological shift away from the secularism that has defined much of its post-independence narrative.
NPP Poised for Victory in Sri Lanka’s Parliamentary Election
Key Takeaways From the Islamabad SCO Summit
India and China Reach Breakthrough Agreement on Border Tensions
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
Drones Over Pyongyang? North Korea’s Official Narrative Meets Internal Skepticism
Officials question the delayed response and foreign ministry involvement in the alleged drone incidents.
K-pop Idol Tears and International Ripples
The India-South Korea-US Triad’s Emerging Roles in the Indo-Pacific
Harris or Trump? South Korea’s Own Political Divide Colors Views of the US Election
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
The Transformation of Japanese Politics and New Japan-Taiwan Relations
The eclipse of a key faction in Japan has changed the landscape.
Shohei Ohtani, Japan’s Baseball Ambassador
Berlin’s Peace Statue Faces Removal Amid Japanese Pressure
The History of Japan’s Nobel Peace Prize-Winning Nuclear Survivors’ Group
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
Prabowo Heralds an Uncertain Future For Fundamental Freedoms in Indonesia
The last administration showed an increasing disdain for democratic and human rights norms. The new one might be even worse.
Towards a More Resilient and United ASEAN
How the Patriotic Investment Act Can Counter China’s Stimulus Package
In Financing ‘Infrastructure for Tomorrow,’ the AIIB Refuses to Learn From Its Past
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
Tajik ISKP Escalates Threats to Iran and Israel Amid Intensifying Gaza War
After October 7, conspiracy theories have gained traction within Central Asian Salafi circles accusing Shias of acting as agents of the Jews in a coordinated effort to undermine Sunni Islam.
Mongolia Encourages Trilateral Projects With China, Russia at SCO Summit
How Tajikistan and Uzbekistan Are Resolving Transport Connectivity Issues
What Does Kyrgyzstan Have to Do With the Spanish Seizure of Chemical Products Bound for Russia?
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
‘De-risking’ vs. ‘Strategic Decoupling’: Understanding Harris’ and Trump’s Approaches to Economic Security
These two terms represent the conceptual foundations of each candidate's economic security policies, especially regarding China. But what do they actually mean?
The US Risks Irrelevance in Asia
Harris, Human Rights, and a Problem for Modi
India and the US 2024 Election
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
The Strategic Significance of India’s First National Security Semiconductor Plant
An agreement between India and the U.S. on a fab for semiconductors explicitly for use in defense technology is a seminal moment in the bilateral relationship.
Why Indonesia is Blocking Chinese E-Commerce App Temu
New Leadership Creates Fresh Momentum For EU-Indonesia FTA Talks
Prabowo’s 8% Growth Gamble: Reform or Bureaucratic Bloat?
Oceania
The South Pacific
Could Australia’s Economy Survive Trump’s Position on China?
On rules of international trade, Canberra is more aligned with Beijing than Washington. How could the next U.S. president impact the relationship?
Climate and China Weigh on How the US Views Pacific Relations
What Can Be Done About Australia’s Declining Birthrate?
Australia’s Response to Atrocities: A Tale of 2 Tragedies
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.