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The Diplomat

@thediplomat.com
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The premier international affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific, covering politics, defense and society from China and Kazakhstan to Myanmar and Australia. thediplomat.com

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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 37m
Why did Pakistan declare “an open war” against its one-time protégé? buff.ly/bh1J25y
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Why Pakistan Turned on the Taliban (and Vice Versa)
Why did Pakistan declare “an open war” against its one-time protégé?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 1h
With its traditional markets less reliable, Brazil sees immense potential in Southeast Asia’s growing economies. buff.ly/8T8hZBy
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Why Is Brazil So Interested in ASEAN?
With its traditional markets less reliable, Brazil sees immense potential in Southeast Asia’s growing economies.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 2h
Beneath the pageantry, here’s the change that matters: Washington has stopped talking about leaving China. buff.ly/pbrrcBq
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Goodbye, ‘China Plus One’: The Real Change in US China Policy
Beneath the pageantry, here’s the change that matters: Washington has stopped talking about leaving China.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 3h
During a Lee-Trump meeting at the U.N. General Assembly, Seoul said the U.S. president reaffirmed his willingness to talk with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. thediplomat.com/2026/09/lee-...
thediplomat.com
Lee Asks Trump to Help Revive North Korea Talks During New York Trip
During a Lee-Trump meeting at the U.N. General Assembly, Seoul said the U.S. president reaffirmed his willingness to talk with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 4h
The European Union was an important audience for the Trump-Xi summit. buff.ly/IVuPv7U
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Europe’s Read of the Trump-Xi Summit
Decisions taken in Washington and Beijing increasingly shape European trade, technology, energy, and security.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 5h
The F-16 or an equivalent is not the best solution for the Brunei's air force as it seeks to enter fast-jet operations.  buff.ly/DvSr2wp
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Options for the Royal Brunei Air Force’s Fast-jet Decision
One important mantra for the RBAirF: Don’t try to run before you can walk.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 6h
China’s demographic crisis gained steam during the same decades of modernization that gave women access to more education, higher incomes, and greater mobility. buff.ly/733Bxc7
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China’s Young Women Are Rewriting the Rules of Adulthood
Modernization has expanded women’s choices and made the traditional sequence of adulthood – marry, have children, settle near family – less inevitable.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 7h
The race to establish an advantageous position on the digital frontier is driving a major capex boom in the United States and elsewhere, and this wave has now fully arrived in Southeast Asia. buff.ly/ehTO9GN
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The Global Data Center Boom Has Arrived in Southeast Asia
Will the region’s demand for artificial intelligence services justify the enormous outlays of money and resources?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 8h
Since when has Pakistan decided that supporting armed groups in a neighboring country is dangerous? buff.ly/4OefE4t
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Pakistan and Terrorism: When the Tables Turn
Islamabad cannot use its own people’s suffering to erase its record of supporting forces that have devastated lives in other countries.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 9h
If the U.S. can't spare any nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, maybe South Korea could provide an alternative. buff.ly/sqd8YAS
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South Korean Submarines Could Save Australia From the AUKUS Shambles
Could the conventionally-powered KSS-III sub offer a more affordable and timely alternative to the planned nuclear-powered fleet?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 10h
Vietnam has confirmed the arrest of two activists, reported missing in neighboring Cambodia earlier this month, whom rights group claim were abducted by the Vietnamese authorities. buff.ly/AXOKDh4
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Vietnam Confirms Arrest of Viet Tan Activists Reported Missing in Cambodia
Rights groups claim that Nguyen Duc Thuan and Tran Hiep were abducted in Cambodia, in line with a pattern of growing transnational repression by the Vietnamese state.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 11h
If India gives in to Dhaka’s demands and extradites Hasina to face a death sentence, it sends a dangerous signal to other neighbors. However, keeping Hasina protected inside India comes at an equally high cost. buff.ly/zFX7xRY
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India’s Sheikh Hasina Dilemma
New Delhi’s difficult decision serves as a masterclass in how personal diplomacy can trap a major power.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 12h
Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has officially set a date for the next presidential election: January 27, 2027. buff.ly/qoJTfU8
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Kyrgyz Presidential Election Set for January 2027, Candidates Start to Step Forward
So far, incumbent President Sadyr Japarov and Omurbek Suvanaliev – a politician and former minister of internal affairs – have announced their intentions to run.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 13h
The so-called “enemy state clauses” are mainly contained in Articles 53, 77, and 107 of the U.N. Charter. They preserve special provisions concerning states that were enemies of the charter’s signatories during World War II. buff.ly/Wykzphb
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Why Are China and Japan Still So Focused on the ‘Enemy State Clauses’ of the UN Charter?
The UNGA voted to delete those sections 20 years ago. But the issue has acquired renewed political significance as Sino-Japanese relations have deteriorated.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 14h
The fact that Trump didn’t give anything new away on Taiwan shouldn’t obscure how much ground he has already conceded to Xi. buff.ly/IDAvkrO
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Taiwan Should Be Kept Off the Negotiating Table
The fact that Trump didn’t give anything new away on Taiwan shouldn’t obscure how much ground he has already conceded to Xi.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 15h
The recent Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood near the China-Nepal border, described as a “mountain tsunami,” occurred at a time when glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) are already melting rapidly. buff.ly/qaPbt8V
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After the Flood, Can China, Nepal, and India Move From Earth Observation to Regional Preparedness?
A blueprint for building resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 16h
The recurring clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan represent the failure of months of diplomacy and external mediation. Where does the Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship go from here? buff.ly/ecIcr97
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Pakistan’s Escalating Response to Cross-Border Terrorism
The recurring clashes represent the failure of months of diplomacy and external mediation. Where does the Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship go from here?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 17h
To some, Trump’s hospitality was “historic.” To others, it was an attempt to “lull China into a false sense of security.” buff.ly/8uEdkD9
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What Did Chinese Analysts Think of the Trump-Xi Summit?
To some, Trump’s hospitality was “historic.” To others, it was an attempt to “lull China into a false sense of security.”
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 18h
Why has India’s manufacturing sector has remained stuck at around 15 percent of GDP despite decades of rapid growth? buff.ly/ox3p3mA
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Rahul Bajoria, Bank of America Chief Economist, on India’s Manufacturing Ambitions
Why has India’s manufacturing sector has remained stuck at around 15 percent of GDP despite decades of rapid growth?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 19h
It is official government policy under President Mohamed Muizzu that the Maldives has the strongest claim to the Chagos Islands. buff.ly/GZOrQjZ
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Why Has the Maldives Inserted Itself Into the Chagos Sovereignty Dispute?
Muizzu has promised to submit evidence supporting the Maldives’ claim to Chagos to relevant international bodies.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 20h
A spate of Republican senators took umbrage at Trump’s reception of “a brutal, unelected, and oppressive dictator.” buff.ly/WZ3TuSX
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US Republicans Weren’t Happy With Trump’s Hosting of Xi
A spate of Republican senators took umbrage at Trump’s reception of “a brutal, unelected, and oppressive dictator.”
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 21h
In Thailand, the pro-Palestine cause has been hijacked by xenophobic far-right groups that also regularly target vulnerable migrant workers from neighboring countries. buff.ly/Fi7t6Gx
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What Lies Behind the Rise in Anti-Israel Sentiment in Thailand?
Nationalist rabble-rousers have accused Israelis of trying to seize Thai territory, and Israeli tourists of misbehaving or disrespecting the country’s culture.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 22h
When the Taliban captured power in Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan celebrated.  So why is Pakistan now bombing its one-time protégé? buff.ly/bh1J25y
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Why Pakistan Turned on the Taliban (and Vice Versa)
Why did Pakistan declare “an open war” against its one-time protégé?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 23h
The “provisional understanding” between Beijing and Manila over the Philippine resupply of Second Thomas Shoal appears to have broken down. buff.ly/A6fblRS
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China Conducts Military Exercise in South China Sea After Confrontation at Disputed Shoal
The “provisional understanding” between Beijing and Manila over the Philippine resupply of Second Thomas Shoal appears to have broken down.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Data centers, the Sovereign Wealth Fund, and a hydropower plant – will any of the new government's plans better the lives of Mongolian people? buff.ly/6YHXjC7
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Mongolia’s New Government Set Ambitious Goals. But Are They Realistic?
Data centers, the Sovereign Wealth Fund, and a hydropower plant – will any of it better the lives of Mongolian people?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Xi’s U.S. visit was extensively covered by official outlets in China. It’s much harder to gauge public opinion or even interest. buff.ly/yEPNbYm
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China’s Visibility Gap Around the Trump-Xi Summit
Xi’s U.S. visit was extensively covered by official outlets. It’s much harder to gauge public opinion or even interest.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Pakistan helped negotiate between Iran and the U.S. in June and which had largely dropped out of public discussion in recent months is back in the news again. buff.ly/bgWfJRt
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The Islamabad Memorandum Returns to the Spotlight
For Pakistan, the coming days will test whether its mediation capacity can keep pace with a conflict that continues to expand in both geography and complexity.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Khieo Lapchanh is the latest Lao exile to fall victim to the growing authoritarian collaboration between the Mekong region’s governments. buff.ly/rGAfVed
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Another Lao Activist Vanishes in Thailand
Khieo Lapchanh is the latest Lao exile to fall victim to the growing authoritarian collaboration between the Mekong region’s governments.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Is there more to Pakistan’s military strikes on Afghanistan than taking out TTP camps? buff.ly/bh1J25y
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Why Pakistan Turned on the Taliban (and Vice Versa)
Why did Pakistan declare “an open war” against its one-time protégé?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Ismat Ara explains the insidious harm of the “love jihad” myth: “A deeply personal decision, two people deciding to marry, gradually becomes something that others felt entitled to violently police.” buff.ly/NdGejrZ
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Ismat Ara on India’s Crackdown on Love
Ara explains the insidious harm of the “love jihad” myth: “A deeply personal decision, two people deciding to marry, gradually becomes something that others felt entitled to violently police.”
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Over the last five years, as AUKUS has taken shape, the dynamics behind regional security have continued to evolve. buff.ly/odJcaeC
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5 Years Later, Where Does AUKUS Stand?
Over the last five years, as AUKUS has taken shape, the dynamics behind regional security have continued to evolve.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Rights groups claim that Nguyen Duc Thuan and Tran Hiep were abducted in Cambodia, in line with a pattern of growing transnational repression by the Vietnamese state.
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Vietnam Confirms Arrest of Viet Tan Activists Reported Missing in Cambodia
Rights groups claim that Nguyen Duc Thuan and Tran Hiep were abducted in Cambodia, in line with a pattern of growing transnational repression by the Vietnamese state.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
The petition concerned the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers, which some claimed could breach constitutional requirements for secret voting.
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Thailand’s Constitutional Court Dismisses Petition Seeking Annulment of General Election
The petition concerned the use of barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers, which some claimed could breach constitutional requirements for secret voting.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Will the region’s demand for artificial intelligence services justify the enormous outlays of money and resources?
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The Global Data Center Boom Has Arrived in Southeast Asia
Will the region’s demand for artificial intelligence services justify the enormous outlays of money and resources?
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
EOS-05 is a single satellite that is part of a broader initiative of India to strengthen its ISR capabilities. buff.ly/zkzniv7
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India’s New Eye in the Sky: EOS-05 Satellite and What It Means for South Asia
EOS-05 is a single satellite that is part of a broader initiative of India to strengthen its ISR capabilities.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Why did Xi Jinping skip the Un General Assembly? buff.ly/wJ3Ch5C
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Xi Jinping Is Coming to the US. Why Is He Skipping the UNGA?
Xi’s coming to the U.S. East Coast while the United Nations’ biggest event is going on. That makes his absence all the more striking.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
The number of Hindu-Muslim clashes is growing as India’s brand of Hindu majoritarianism gains ground in Nepal. buff.ly/PSfA8ID
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Hindutva Is Slowly Seeping Into Nepal
The number of Hindu-Muslim clashes is growing as India’s brand of Hindu majoritarianism gains ground in Nepal.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
A record family ministry budget proposal expands support beyond the traditional household, but a bill to recognize unmarried civil partnerships remains under review. buff.ly/CJ0ZX3H
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What South Korea Means by Protecting ‘Diverse Families’
A record family ministry budget proposal expands support beyond the traditional household, but a bill to recognize unmarried civil partnerships remains under review.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
New Delhi’s difficult decision with it comes to Sheikh Hasina serves as a masterclass in how personal diplomacy can trap a major power. buff.ly/jIwCxAi
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India’s Sheikh Hasina Dilemma
New Delhi’s difficult decision serves as a masterclass in how personal diplomacy can trap a major power.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
One important mantra for the Royal Brunei Air Force: Don’t try to run before you can walk. buff.ly/DvSr2wp
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Options for the Royal Brunei Air Force’s Fast-jet Decision
One important mantra for the RBAirF: Don’t try to run before you can walk.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Decisions taken in Washington and Beijing increasingly shape European trade, technology, energy, and security. buff.ly/XbHfE4h
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Europe’s Read of the Trump-Xi Summit
Decisions taken in Washington and Beijing increasingly shape European trade, technology, energy, and security.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
During a Lee-Trump meeting at the U.N. General Assembly, Seoul said the U.S. president reaffirmed his willingness to talk with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. buff.ly/kb2Z490
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Lee Asks Trump to Help Revive North Korea Talks During New York Trip
During a Lee-Trump meeting at the U.N. General Assembly, Seoul said the U.S. president reaffirmed his willingness to talk with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Given what happened in May, Taiwanese may have been more nervous after the latest Trump-Xi summit ended. buff.ly/B22wNzZ
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The Trump-Xi Summit Is Over, But Taiwan Is Still Bracing for the Fallout
Given what happened in May, Taiwanese may have been more nervous after the latest Trump-Xi summit ended.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Why did Pakistan declare “an open war” against its one-time protégé? buff.ly/1dCVClY
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 29/09/2026
Following a controversial carrier acquisition, the most pressing question is whether and how Indonesia can convert the vessel into a viable military asset. buff.ly/D5vH7oD
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Indonesia Finally Has Its Aircraft Carrier. Now Comes the Hard Part.
Following a controversial acquisition, the most pressing question is whether and how Indonesia can convert the vessel into a viable military asset.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 28/09/2026
Manas National Park in the northeast Indian state of Assam is in danger. The Assam government, which should be protecting this 1,176-acre World Heritage Site, has encroached on the park for several years. buff.ly/mNW1KdT
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Assam Government Encroaches Into a World Heritage Site in India’s Northeast
The encroached area is part of Manas National Park’s core tiger and Bengal florican habitats.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 28/09/2026
Good feelings were on display during Xi's visit to Washington, but there was no real movement on the many areas of friction. buff.ly/VnIG38j
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Trump-Xi Summit: Heavy of Vibes, Light on Substance
Good feelings were on display, but there was no real movement on the many areas of friction.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 28/09/2026
From church vandalism to grave desecration, assaults against Christian minorities are increasing in the large state of West Bengal since the BJP, an RSS offshoot, came to power in May. buff.ly/cZtW0nZ
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Abroad, India’s RSS Speaks of ‘Love.’ At Home, Its Affiliates Attack Christians.
From church vandalism to grave desecration, assaults against Christian minorities are increasing in the large state of West Bengal since the BJP, an RSS offshoot, came to power in May.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 28/09/2026
Yap is the site of a potential $2 billion investment by the Pentagon. And yet there is no permanent U.S. government presence in Yap, outreach to Americans on the ground is limited, there is little effective attempt to develop understanding and trust with locals. buff.ly/m3SIV08
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What’s Wrong With US Pacific Islands Policy?
It’s the relationships, stupid.
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The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 28/09/2026
Myanmar’s civil wars have long attracted foreign nationals seeking adventure or driven by a mission. Are Russians the latest to join the fight? buff.ly/ElsHn9d
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Fighters Without Borders: Mercenaries, Adventurers, and Volunteers in Myanmar’s Civil War
The country’s civil wars have long attracted foreign nationals seeking adventure or driven by a mission. Are Russians the latest to join the fight?
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