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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: 6 days 6 hours ago

How China Views Bangladesh’s Election 

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 21:24
Chinese official statements and comments from academics reflect a clear assessment that the polls have not altered the fundamental structure of bilateral relations.

Forecasting the BNP’s Diplomacy in South Asia and Beyond

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 15:20
Already, Tarique Rahman has made clear that Bangladesh’s interests would guide foreign policy. China, India, and the United States are recalibrating their approaches accordingly. 

Pakistan’s Search for Strategic Flexibility in South Asia

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 15:14
With discussions on a possible new, flexible, regional platform with Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is seeking to build backup security channels in a dynamic region.

Can India Power the AI Dream?

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 14:42
The country has rushed to embrace artificial intelligence. Its impacts on jobs, the electrical grid, and water availability need to be taken into account.

China’s Military Purges Won’t Change Its Taiwan Calculus

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 14:21
The purges carry real implications for China’s domestic politics and short-term military readiness, but their relevance to Beijing’s Taiwan policy is limited.

Ex-President Yoon Given Life Sentence for Insurrection

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 14:05
The court’s recognition of Yoon as a rebellion leader necessitates an expedited final ruling to permanently root out martial law remnants.

Geopolitical Jockeying in Nepal Ahead of March General Elections

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 11:50
The post-election climate in Nepal looks particularly harsh for China, as Nepal’s major communist forces are not expected to do well in the elections.

Dead or Alive, Imran Khan Puts Pakistan’s General Munir in a Catch-22 Situation

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 11:43
In trying to contain Khan, the system may be unintentionally shaping the very legend it fears.

Southeast Asia and the Rohingya Militant Threat

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 04:35
The refugee crisis in Bangladesh is steadily metastasizing into a transnational ecosystem of criminality, militancy, and corruption.

Thailand Wants to Bring Myanmar Back Into ASEAN, Foreign Minister Says

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 03:52
After a meeting with his junta counterpart, Sihasak Phuangketkeow said that Thailand wanted to be a "bridge" connecting Myanmar back to the regional community.

3 Southeast Asian Leaders Arrive in Washington for ‘Board of Peace’ Summit

Thu, 19/02/2026 - 01:53
Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia each have their reasons for taking part in President Donald Trump's initiative, but most of the region remains cautious.

Why Did Philippine VP Sara Duterte Declare Her Presidential Candidacy?

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 22:02
Duterte’s early declaration for the 2028 presidential election is inseparable from her ongoing feud with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Early Presidential Election Off the Table in Kyrgyzstan

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 21:14
And Japarov’s time in office seems to have been given an end-date: 2032.

Lai’s Tougher Stance on Transnational Repression Has Taiwan’s Hong Kongers Optimistic

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 19:08
After 2019, Taiwan saw an influx of political refugees from Hong Kong. But even self-exile didn't guarantee safety.

From 4 Flotillas to 3: Inside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Historic Overhaul

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 16:03
The JMSDF ends a 60-year era in a sweeping “scrap-and-build” reform.

Study: Central Asia’s Water Tower to Lose One-third of Glacier Mass by 2040

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 15:47
The smaller glaciers of the Tian Shan mountains respond more quickly to climate change.

West Bengal’s Election Is Turning Bangladesh’s Voting Pattern Into a Security Scare

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 15:40
Events across the border – including the rise of Jamaat-e-Islami – are serving as political ammunition in the Indian state assembly race.

The Evolution of Australia’s Sports Diplomacy in the Pacific 

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 15:29
Australia has made its biggest Pacific sporting bet so far. Will it deliver results for both Australia and the Pacific Islands?

Japan’s Election Results: Takeaways for Takaichi

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 14:59
Insights from Kristin Vekasi 

A Tragedy in Indonesia: Poverty, Data, and the Cost of a Schoolbook

Wed, 18/02/2026 - 14:58
In Nusa Tenggara Timur, a 10-year-old boy’s suicide exposes the limits of income-based poverty metrics. Multidimensional data show that deprivation in Indonesia often clusters long before a family is officially classified as poor.

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