Latest Stories
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.
South Korean President Holds Press Conference
A month after his election, Lee Jae-myung reiterated his will to “rebuild” South Korea.
Who Won the 100-hour War? Pakistan or India?
Initially, IAF’s aircraft losses were higher than those of the PAF. Abandoning restraint, the IAF switched to pounding Pakistani military targets.
Hassan Abbas on the Resurgent Support for Pakistan Army’s Rise, Post-Operation Sindoor
“The sense of external threat and national unity has led many Pakistanis to rally around the armed forces, although this resurgence in support may prove to be transient.”
The Battle Over Electoral Reform in Bangladesh
Islamists want a proportional representation system under which they could win more seats. The BNP prefers the current first-past-the-post system.
Reframing the French Indo-Pacific: New Caledonia, How to Overcome the Geopolitical Impasse?
The ongoing crisis in New Caledonia threatens to unravel more than three decades of French diplomatic engagement, as well as France’s broader strategy in the region.
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
The Embarrassing Reason Xi Talks about ‘Great Changes Unseen in a Century’
The formulation clearly means something important, but its origins are often obscured.
Online Dissent in China Doesn’t Mean Xi Jinping Is on His Way Out
Will China Become Iran’s Major Defense Partner?
China Car Crash Plan Targeting Hsiao Bi-khim Shocks Taiwan
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
Who Won the 100-hour War? Pakistan or India?
Initially, IAF’s aircraft losses were higher than those of the PAF. Abandoning restraint, the IAF switched to pounding Pakistani military targets.
Reframing the French Indo-Pacific: New Caledonia, How to Overcome the Geopolitical Impasse?
NATO’s North Korea Blindspot Is a Security Nightmare
China’s Steady Ascent to the Moon: How Beijing Is Rewriting Lunar Geopolitics
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
China’s Military Diplomacy in the New Era
Military diplomacy – including senior-level visits, port calls, and joint exercises – has become a vital tool of Chinese statecraft.
Japan’s MHI Launches 11th Mogami-Class Multirole Frigate for JMSDF
Philippines Elevates Defense Ties With Lithuania to Counter ‘Common Threats’
Eyes in Orbit: Rethinking India’s Strategic Blind Spot in Low Earth Space
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
Why the 2025 UN Conference Must Deliver on the Rohingya Crisis
Seven years on, the refugee camps are still full. Rohingya futures are still frozen. And the promises from the international community remain, for the most part, unfulfilled.
What’s Next for Thai Politics After the PM’s Suspension From Office?
Decoding ASEAN’s Measured Engagement with BRICS
China Sanctions Former Philippine Senator For South China Sea Advocacy
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
Why Is Japan’s Tiny Kurdish Community at the Center of a Political Storm?
Faced with right-wing attacks amid a growing national profile, Japan’s Kurds could benefit from simple, pragmatic policymaking.
Japan’s Democratic Party for the People Mixes Momentum and Backlash
Japan’s Ishiba Skates on Thin Political Ice
What South Korea’s New President Means for Japan-North Korea Relations
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
Retreating Is Not Safety: How Cambodia Drives Women Out of Civic Spaces
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is driving women out of leadership positions and public advocacy.
No Safe Return: The Case Against Deporting Afghan Refugees
On Regional Tensions, Don’t Expect Too Much of ASEAN
Before the US Realizes the Cost, China Is Rapidly Gaining Soft Power Ground
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.