Topic
The politics and economics behind Asia's big-ticket infrastructure projects.
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- Incidents like a suicide bombing in 2021 that killed nine Chinese nationals have prompted concerns for those working and living in Pakistan
- More recently, a Chinese employee at a major hydropower project was arrested under blasphemy laws, which carry the death penalty
The project, described as South Asia’s largest logistics hub, will take China Merchants Group’s investment in Sri Lanka to US$2 billion.
Big infrastructure projects have been the hallmark of China’s Belt and Road Initiative over the past decade, but analysts say ‘small but beautiful’ projects will dominate in the years ahead.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said he’ll tap into private capital to fund the projects, unlike the previous administration, which relied on foreign financing, including from China.
Qin will meet President Joko Widodo and his counterpart Retno Marsudi, chair the fourth meeting of the JCBC and visit Asean headquarters in Jakarta.
Two nations keen to work together but analysts say they may have slightly different priorities, with Manila keener on aid and economic assistance. Both want to counter China’s expansionist policies in South China Sea.
With US-Philippine ties back on track, analysts say Washington will not expect Marcos Jnr to make major policy moves similar to Duterte’s pronouncement back in 2016.
More than US$1 billion worth of deals are on the table as New Delhi looks to balance Beijing’s infrastructure investments with a Sri Lankan port – and power projects – of its own.
Urban explorer’s visit to abandoned Chernobyl nuclear site in Ukraine ignited his passion for documenting dereliction. He’s spent the past four years pursuing that in China.
Latest safety lapse to hit construction of Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, which has suffered delays, massive cost overruns and series of accidents.
Researchers have ‘growing concerns’ about harm to marine habitats and local communities from China’s overseas infrastructure investments.
Bangladesh hopes the river restoration will stabilise water flows for farming areas, but environmental concerns, questions about who benefits from development and potential objections from India still cloud the project.
As ‘special economic zones’ flourish in sign of growing Chinese influence in Laos, thousands are displaced and forests rubbed out to make way for new train line.
From large-scale transport and water-conservancy projects to renewable energy efforts, China is splashing out trillions of yuan on critical infrastructure.
Chinese companies have proven more successful than their Western counterparts at adapting strategies to align with the development goals of emerging economies, according to researchers.
President Joko Widodo, who inspected a new railway station, said the project was 88.8 per cent complete and its commercial launch is expected in June 2023.
Indonesia’s Joko Widodo plans to invite Xi Jinping for a test run on the China-built Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway after taking part in the Bali G20 summit on November 15-16.
China says it has outperformed other G20 members in helping the world’s poorer nations deal with the impact of the coronavirus, but a lack of transparency has made it difficult to assess the level of support, analysts said.
