Latest Stories
China-US Relations: Looking for an Edge
A Small State’s Limited Playbook: Cambodia Exploits Thailand’s Weakness
Unable to match Bangkok militarily, Phnom Penh has instead pursued asymmetric strategies in the current border dispute.
Japan Steps Up New Security Assistance to Countries Caught Between US and China
Japan’s Official Security Assistance continues to grow in its third year, reflecting Tokyo’s aim to give Indo-Pacific countries a third option for partnership.
To Be a Bridge Builder: Indonesia’s Debut at the BRICS Summit
Jakarta understands the importance of maintaining cooperation with both China and the United States, as demonstrated by Prabowo’s attendance at the BRICS Summit and his efforts to negotiate with the Trump administration.
Silencing RFA Uyghur Echoes Past Mistakes
Forty-five years ago, the U.S. silenced Uyghur voices in the name of diplomacy. Today, they are being silenced in the name of austerity.
Synthetic Sovereign: How Kim Jong Un Could Rule Forever as a Deepfake
A fusion of authoritarianism, isolationism, and GenAI could create a new political phenomenon: the synthetic sovereign.
Most Read
Cambodia’s Hun Sen Flouts ASEAN’s Doctrine of Non-interference
By releasing a recorded phone call with the Thai prime minister, the strongman has broken an important regional norm.
Labubu Plushies Aren’t Just Toys. They’re a Brand New Frontier for Chinese Soft Power.
For the first time, an IP created in China has become a global consumer craze. And it happened entirely without central planning.
The Attack on Iran’s Nuclear Program Should Be a Warning to South Korea
The Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran show exactly why a South Korean nuclear program would be a dangerous pursuit.
Magazine
Russian Without Russians: The Politics of Language in Uzbekistan
A new generation is questioning the privileged place of the Russian language in public education and everyday life – while still grappling with its utility, legacy, and political weight.
The Transnational Origins of Taiwan’s Semiconductor Industry
Donald Trump’s self-proclaimed “victory” in his chip war against Taipei is premised on a fundamental misunderstanding of how we got to where we are.
Anatomy of an Insurgency: Balochistan’s Crisis and Pakistan’s Failures
Recent escalations demonstrate both the insurgents’ growing operational capabilities and the Pakistani state’s persistent reliance on heavy-handed military responses that continue to alienate Baloch society.
Michael Kugelman Revisits the India-Pakistan Crisis
“This is the first time since each country went nuclear that we’ve seen so much force used in so many places.”
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
Synthetic Sovereign: How Kim Jong Un Could Rule Forever as a Deepfake
A fusion of authoritarianism, isolationism, and GenAI could create a new political phenomenon: the synthetic sovereign.
Who Won the 100-hour War? Pakistan or India?
Reframing the French Indo-Pacific: New Caledonia, How to Overcome the Geopolitical Impasse?
NATO’s North Korea Blindspot Is a Security Nightmare
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
Japan Steps Up New Security Assistance to Countries Caught Between US and China
Japan’s Official Security Assistance continues to grow in its third year, reflecting Tokyo’s aim to give Indo-Pacific countries a third option for partnership.
China’s Military Diplomacy in the New Era
Japan’s MHI Launches 11th Mogami-Class Multirole Frigate for JMSDF
Philippines Elevates Defense Ties With Lithuania to Counter ‘Common Threats’
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
To Be a Bridge Builder: Indonesia’s Debut at the BRICS Summit
Jakarta understands the importance of maintaining cooperation with both China and the United States, as demonstrated by Prabowo’s attendance at the BRICS Summit and his efforts to negotiate with the Trump administration.
A Small State’s Limited Playbook: Cambodia Exploits Thailand’s Weakness
Why the 2025 UN Conference Must Deliver on the Rohingya Crisis
What’s Next for Thai Politics After the PM’s Suspension From Office?
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
Taliban: Russia’s ‘Objective Allies’ in its Fight Against the Islamic State
With a pledge of support and official recognition, Russia’s relationship with the Taliban has evolved considerably.
The Battle Over Electoral Reform in Bangladesh
Between Tigers and Tradition: The Complex Reality of Village Relocation in India
India-EU Relations: Charting New Vistas for Climate Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
South Korean President Holds Press Conference
A month after his election, Lee Jae-myung reiterated his will to “rebuild” South Korea.
South Korea’s Sovereign AI Gambit: A High-Stakes Experiment in Autonomy
How Netflix Both Supercharges and Risks Derailing South Korea’s Content Industry
South Korean President Nominates Prime Minister and Ministers
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
Japan Heads to the Polls With Ruling Coalition’s Majority at Risk
The House of Councillors July 20 election exposes the cracks in Japan’s political strongholds and the growing regional-urban electoral divide.
Why Is Japan’s Tiny Kurdish Community at the Center of a Political Storm?
Japan’s Democratic Party for the People Mixes Momentum and Backlash
Japan’s Ishiba Skates on Thin Political Ice
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
Silencing RFA Uyghur Echoes Past Mistakes
Forty-five years ago, the U.S. silenced Uyghur voices in the name of diplomacy. Today, they are being silenced in the name of austerity.
Retreating Is Not Safety: How Cambodia Drives Women Out of Civic Spaces
No Safe Return: The Case Against Deporting Afghan Refugees
On Regional Tensions, Don’t Expect Too Much of ASEAN
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
Mongolia’s WWII Legacy: Asset or Liability in 2025?
The stories of Mongolia's WWII heroes are deeply ingrained in the nation’s cultural fabric. But in an age of great power competition, remembrance is increasingly seen as a geopolitical signal.
The US Aimed at Iran But Might Have Hit Central Asia
A Region of Opportunity? US Policy and the Future of Central Asia
Russian Authorities Consider Additional Fees for Visiting Foreigners, Migrant Workers
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
Cambodia, US Nearing Agreement on Trade, Phnom Penh Says
Among the ASEAN nations, Cambodia is the most potentially exposed to any sudden shift in U.S. trade policy.
Indonesia Offers to Purchase $34 Billion in US Goods Ahead of Tariff Deadline
Trump Says US and Vietnam Have Reached an Agreement on Tariffs
India, the Quad, and China’s Shadow: Building a Coherent Indo-Pacific Strategy
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
Why South Korea Needs a Trade Deal With the United States
Without a new deal or an extension to the talks, South Korea will face a series of new tariffs from the United States that will significantly impact its economy.
Asian Universities Rise in Global Sustainability Leadership Rankings
How Indonesia Is Using Its Green Sukuk
Silicon Statecraft Alignment: Taiwan’s Strategic Bet on US-Led Export Controls
Oceania
The South Pacific
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
The Geopolitics of the Second China-Central Asia Summit
How are Central Asian states navigating great power dynamics?
What Does South Korea’s New Progressive Administration Portend for Northeast Asia?
France as a ‘Resident Power’ in the Pacific
The India-Pakistan Clashes of 2025: Why Things Are Different (And More Dangerous) This Time
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
The Untold Stories of Peshawar’s Gemstone Market at Namak Mandi
Pakistan’s largest and most important gemstone and mineral market is deeply intertwined with the region’s borders, conflict, and undocumented economies.