Latest Stories
Nepal Urges China to Share Data Required for Flood Management
Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology claims that China has been withholding vital information on glacial lakes under its control in Tibet.
China’s ‘Gifts’ of Parliament Buildings in Africa Are a Wake-Up Call for Digital Sovereignty
Over the past two decades, Beijing has financed and built at least 15 parliament buildings in African nations. These projects carry hidden costs that extend far beyond their initial construction.
Constitutional Amendment: Managing Pandora’s Box for Nepal
Nepal’s post-insurgency constitution was a document of compromise among various political forces. Changing it will bring new risks.
China’s Authoritarian Pitch Gains Ground Globally
New research shows China is remarkably effective in promoting its authoritarian governance to a global audience. The United States must up its game.
UK to Cede Chagos Islands to Mauritius, But US Base Will Remain
The U.K. will maintain de facto control over Diego Garcia, and the crucial U.S. military facility there, for another 99 years.
What Is Ishibanomics?
New Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru placed an emphasis on economic policy during his initial policy address. What's his prescription for Japan?
Most Read
What’s in a Name? For Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ Capital, Everything.
The abrupt name change of the city formerly known as Port Blair has caused a backlash among locals, who already feel marginalized in their own home.
The Hidden Significance of China’s Aircraft Carrier Passage Near Japan’s Yonaguni Island
While the political implications of this voyage are undoubtedly important, three significant military trends related to Yonaguni Island have long been overlooked.
Myanmar’s Silent Digital Crisis
The country’s civil war has been accompanied by the growing prevalence of non-consensual pornography and other forms of cyber-attacks on women.
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 Authoritarian Pitch Gains Ground Globally
New research shows China is remarkably effective in promoting its authoritarian governance to a global audience. The United States must up its game.
Nepal Urges China to Share Data Required for Flood Management
Blurred Boundaries: The Role of Chinese Companies in CCP Policy
Beijing’s Push to Welcome Foreign Talent
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
Ishiba’s Integrated Deterrence: What Japan’s New Prime Minister Means for Taiwan
A former defense minister, Ishiba's victory will have important implications for the future of Japan-Taiwan relations.
UK to Cede Chagos Islands to Mauritius, But US Base Will Remain
Nuclear Stability in the 21st Century
Gray Hulls in the Gray Zone: Indonesia’s Conundrum in the South China Sea
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
Matching Japan’s Counterstrike Capability With South Korea’s Three Axis System
Integrating Japan’s counterstrike capability with South Korea’s Three Axis system could strengthen the security of both countries.
Rethinking Taiwan’s Defense Preparedness in the Context of Whole-of-Society Resilience
AI and Indian Defense: Enhancing National Security Through Innovation
Singapore Navy Commissions First Two Invincible-Class Submarines
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
Philippines Says It Is ‘Monitoring’ Media Reports of Covert Foreign Ops
A new Al Jazeera documentary advances claims that Alice Guo, a former Philippine mayor, worked as a spy for the Chinese government.
Midterm Elections and the Prospect of Impeachment in the Philippines
Indonesia, Malaysia Welcome Proposed Delay to EU Deforestation Regulation
Former Singaporean Transport Minister Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
Constitutional Amendment: Managing Pandora’s Box for Nepal
Nepal’s post-insurgency constitution was a document of compromise among various political forces. Changing it will bring new risks.
Afghanistan’s Reckoning Moment in the Fight for Women’s Rights
Will Sikh Separatist Pannun Spoil India’s Plans to Mediate Between Russia and Ukraine?
India Must Match China’s Speedy Moves in Bangladesh’s New Political Landscape
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
Tourists and Diplomats Come Back to North Korea: A Chance for Renewed Engagement
North Korea’s near-simultaneous reopening to tourism and to Western diplomats after five years of isolation signals a dramatic shift in the country’s approach to international engagement.
Rice Prices in North Korea Surge to New Highs in September
South Korea’s Changing Position on Kim Jong Un’s Daughter
North Korea Gives Glimpse Into a Secretive Uranium-Enrichment Facility as Kim Pushes for More Nukes
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
Can Japan Become the ‘World’s Most AI-friendly Country’?
As the world faces rapid change and competition over AI, Japan’s step-up is significant for the East Asian region but also the wider world.
What Is Ishibanomics?
Ishiba Shigeru Wants a Stronger Japan-US Alliance. He Has an Unorthodox Vision For Doing That.
Japan’s Official Development Assistance and the National Interest
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
China’s ‘Gifts’ of Parliament Buildings in Africa Are a Wake-Up Call for Digital Sovereignty
Over the past two decades, Beijing has financed and built at least 15 parliament buildings in African nations. These projects carry hidden costs that extend far beyond their initial construction.
Holding the Taliban Accountable Through the Media
A New Paradigm For Supporting the People of Myanmar Is Emerging in Rakhine State
What’s Wrong With Calling Hun Sen ‘Despicable’?
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
Mongolia’s Strategic Shift in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape
Mongolian leadership has adopted a more strategic approach to foreign policy, while public opinion has increasingly favored Russia and China as Mongolia’s most reliable partners.
Kyrgyzstan’s New North-South Highway Nears Completion
Central Asia’s War on Hijab
Tajikistan’s Winter Electricity Rationing Starts Early
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
Harris or Trump: US Southeast Asia Policy Confronts Hard Realities
There is an urgent need to reinforce U.S. competitiveness in the region regardless of who emerges victorious at the November 5 election.
Why Isn’t the ‘China Card’ Effective in This US Election?
US Forced Labor Ruling on Indonesian Nickel Could Backfire
An American Pastor Detained in China for Nearly 20 Years Has Been Released
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
A Clash of Values: Human Rights and Environmental Standards vs. Free Trade
Navigating the clash between human rights, environmental standards, and free trade requires a nuanced approach.
Cambodian Microfinance Loans Based on Rising Land Prices Point to Further NPL Increase
The Foreign Policy Connections of India’s Semiconductor Strategy
US Commerce Department Imposes Duties on Southeast Asian Solar Imports
Oceania
The South Pacific
At UN, Australia’s FM Wong Defends International Institutions at a Time of Crisis
Wong argued, “We have no option and no excuse but to find a way through our challenges today, immense and intractable as they are.”
Tuvalu’s Water Woes
New Zealand’s Trade Deal With the UAE Could Be the Start of Something Much Bigger
Niue’s Strategic Diplomatic Expansion
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.