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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: 4 hours 19 min ago

Vietnam, European Union Announce Major Diplomatic Upgrade Amid Trade Uncertainties

Fri, 30/01/2026 - 01:27
António Costa, the president of the European Council, said that the upgrade “underlines the importance we attach to the region and to Vietnam’s growing role within it.”

The Changing Role of ‘Alternate’ Members on the Central Committee of Vietnam’s Communist Party

Fri, 30/01/2026 - 01:14
From 2021-2026, despite massive vacancies leaving 35 empty seats in the Central Committee (due to disciplinary dismissals or deaths), none were filled by alternates.

Thousands Stranded in Cambodia After Fleeing Online Scamming Compounds

Fri, 30/01/2026 - 00:58
The rights group Amnesty International says that the government is doing nothing to deal with the mounting "humanitarian crisis."

The Growing Cost of China’s GDP Target

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 22:12
The country's growth has become increasingly expensive to maintain, and its dividends are reaching ordinary households with diminishing force.

Why EU-India Trade Deal Could Be Bad News for Bangladesh

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 16:22
India has secured tariff-free access to the EU’s garment market even as Bangladesh’s loss of preferential status looms.

The End of Western Decoupling From China

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 15:57
The British prime minister’s arrival in Beijing signified a structural shift in Western policy toward China – and the end of a strategic narrative of containment.

Kazakh Ministry of Defense Outlines Emergency Measures in Wake of Recent Deaths

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 15:42
Since the start of 2026, at least four Kazakh servicemen – mostly young conscripts – have died in accidents, some with murky circumstances and lingering questions.

The Unification Paradox: Why South Korea Must Embrace a Two-State Reality

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 15:25
Paradoxically, formally abandoning the goal of immediate unification is the only realistic means of securing long-term stability.

Navigating the Iran Conundrum: India’s Options

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 15:06
In the long run, India cannot hold back as a mere spectator to global conflicts, particularly in ones where its interests are at stake.

Guangzhou Talks the Talk on Protecting Cantonese, But Can It Walk the Walk?

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 14:33
The city’s recent announcement on language sits uneasily with Beijing’s policies prioritizing Mandarin.

Japan’s Nuclear Submarine Debate Gains Momentum Amid Rising Pacific Threats

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 13:37
The debate over nuclear-powered submarines is likely to serve as a critical indicator of Japan’s strategic trajectory.

Vietnam’s Semiconductor Strategy, Explained

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 06:45
The country just broke ground on its first integrated chip plant, part of its ambition of pushing itself up the global semiconductor value chain.

Executive Committee of Malaysian Soccer Body Quits En Masse Over Naturalization Scandal

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 04:54
The global soccer body FIFA has suspended seven foreign-born players that it claims were granted Malaysian citizenship through the use of fake documents.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers Discuss Myanmar, South China Sea at Cebu Retreat

Thu, 29/01/2026 - 01:48
The two-day Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) Retreat is the first major meeting to take place under the Philippines' chairmanship of the bloc.

Maybe China Hasn’t Given Up on Economic Coercion in Australia

Wed, 28/01/2026 - 22:00
In a recent interview, the Chinese ambassador to Australia suggested Beijing may be willing to use economic tools to punish Australia should Canberra not fall in line on Taiwan.

Kazakh-US Collaboration Deepens as Oil Exports Through Russia Come Under Fire

Wed, 28/01/2026 - 20:44
As Ukrainian attacks on Kazakhstan’s primary oil export route intensify, the Central Asian state has moved to deepen cooperation with the United States.

China’s Intervention and the Limits of Fatalism in Myanmar

Wed, 28/01/2026 - 20:22
Many internationals now assume that Myanmar’s political future will ultimately be determined by Beijing. This is a profound misreading.

1 Year In: How the China-Cook Islands Partnership Agreement Is Shaping Up

Wed, 28/01/2026 - 19:27
While much remains uncertain, developments over the past year offer a clearer sense of what lies ahead.

UN Expert Urges Uzbekistan to Release Tajimuratov Amid Continued Torture Allegations

Wed, 28/01/2026 - 18:58
The Karakalpak lawyer was sentenced in 2023 to 16 years in prison; ever since there have been consist reports of his mistreatment and torture.

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