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Infrastructure in Asia

A railway worker holds a flag to signal safety for a passenger train passing through a railway crossing in Hanoi. Photo: AFP
Vietnam

Vietnam to build US$67 billion high-speed railway

The railway will run from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south, in a boost to infrastructure expected to drive investment.

China’s military drills

China and Pakistan talk security as they target terrorism against belt and road

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China-Asean relations

China leveraging Laos to link up its Southeast Asian economic interests

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Asean

Opinion | As AI takes the world by storm, Asia stands to benefit

Amid rising demand for AI and cybersecurity, Southeast Asia’s lower costs, renewable energy and political neutrality are proving attractive.

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Southeast Asia has quickly emerged as an ideal destination for data centres, with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand leading the way. Photo: Shutterstock
Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | As attacks on Chinese workers in Pakistan grow, how will Beijing respond?

In the wake of deadly attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, Beijing looks likely to get more directly involved in counterterrorism.

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Indonesia

Widodo’s decade in power leaves an Indonesia transformed – but concerned

While Jokowi’s presidency brought growth and modernisation, his last-minute political manoeuvring raised fears of democratic backsliding.

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Cambodia

Cambodia-Vietnam ties strained by new China-backed canal

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Belt and Road Initiative

Editorial | Pakistan killings send China a grim reminder

Real life-and-death threats face those who work in high-risk areas and authorities must attempt to contain violence.

India

Will Mumbai’s US$6.9 billion roads plan fix gridlock in India’s finance hub?

The ambitious “Mumbai in Minutes” initiative promises faster commutes, but experts warn of land acquisition and environmental hurdles.

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Banking & finance

VP of China-based AIIB says bank has proven doubters ‘100% wrong’

With 110 member states and years of experience, AIIB vice-president says Beijing-based development bank a model for multilateralism.

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Danny Alexander is the outgoing vice-president for policy and strategy at the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank. He joined the bank in 2016. Photo: David Wong
China-Asean relations

Why China’s belt and road push could give it an edge in Southeast Asia

Infrastructure projects such as high-speed rail could help Beijing keep US from coaxing region into its orbit, analysts say.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Indonesia

Indonesia bags first foreign investment for Nusantara from Chinese developer

Analysts say ‘relatively small’ investment may be new strategy to secure more modest funding, attract expansion opportunities across Indonesia.

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China's economic recovery

Exclusive | With major waterway plans in the pipeline, is China in its ‘grand canal era’?

Local governments seeking economy-boosting infrastructure projects are pitching costly waterways, ushering in a ‘grand canal era’ and raising eyebrows.

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Belt and Road Initiative

Explainer | What, where, how: the next 10 years of China’s evolving Belt and Road Initiative

With focus of global trade plan shifting, gone may be the days when huge infrastructure projects left partner countries holding a big bill and facing environmental implications.

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A family rides past a decoration in the shape of the national flags of China and Pakistan ahead of a visit to the capital city of Lahore by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in July last year to mark the 10th anniversary of a mega economic plan that is the cornerstone of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Photo: AFP
Thailand

Is Thai mega project a land bridge too far for ‘desperate’ government?

Analysts warn the project could become another white elephant, with funding, long-term viability and possible corruption among serious concerns.

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Former Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin stands in front of an infographic depicting the land bridge to bypass the Malacca Strait. Photo: Facebook/Srettha Thavisin
Malaysia

Tourist missing after falling into Kuala Lumpur sinkhole

China economy

Will Thailand’s new PM seek Chinese funding for land bridge? Definitely, maybe

With a new Thai leader in place, analysts speculate over whether she will ask for China’s aid in a massive land bridge project that would serve both countries’ interests.

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Belt and Road Initiative

How violent unrest in Pakistan could hurt China’s belt and road megaprojects

Beijing shows signs of frustration as megaprojects in Pakistan, including Gwadar port and CPEC, face growing security risks, observers say.

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People from Pakistan’s Baloch community take part in a demonstration on July 28 in the city of Gwadar, home to a Chinese-funded port project. Photo: AFP
Nepal

Trading mushrooms for motorbikes spells change for Nepal’s remote Dolpo

Yarsagumba fungus has boasted incomes in the region and paid for Chinese motorbikes and other mod cons, but will authorities be wise enough to recognise looming potholes on the road to development?

India

‘Lucky that no one died’: rains, corruption blamed for India’s falling bridges

Experts say scientific bridge health monitoring systems needed to prevent collapses linked to intense downpours and faulty construction by corrupt firms.

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Laos

Laos is drowning in debt. China says it’s ‘doing its best’ to help

The tiny Southeast Asian nation’s massive debt burden amounts to 108 per cent of its gross domestic product.

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A train travels across the Mekong river on a bridge of the China-Laos Railway, which cost the landlocked country about US$6 billion. Photo: Xinhua
Pacific nations

China, Australia donate buildings, airstrips in Pacific influence race

China donated a presidential building complex in Vanuatu, while Australia and New Zealand inaugurated an airstrip in neighbouring Solomon Islands, amid competition for influence in the Pacific.

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Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai receives an oversized novelty golden key to the Pacific nation’s new China-funded presidential palace. Photo: Handout
India

India’s collapsing airport roofs, bridges lay bare Modi’s ‘electoral gimmick’

A slew of infrastructure disasters has raised safety concerns about the prime minister’s building spree aimed at boosting the nation’s development.

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Malaysia

Anwar vows Malaysia’s airports operator will remain in Malaysians’ hands

Malaysia’s PM assured parliament that the country will also retain ownership of the operator amid protests against an Israel-linked bid.

Indonesia

Prabowo op-ed a ‘message’ on fate of Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara

New manifesto makes it clear Prabowo’s focus is on his own policies, including a free lunch initiative, rather than the new capital, analysts say.

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (centre) inspecting the venue to be used for the country’s Independence Day celebrations in the future capital city of Nusantara in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, on June 5. Photo: Handout / Indonesian Presidential Palace / AFP
Malaysia

China eyes Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link as central piece of pan-Asia railway

The Chinese premier said Malaysia’s ‘unique location advantage’ could make it the final piece in their rail connectivity puzzle

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China’s Premier Li Qiang, centre, led by Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, meet Malaysian cabinet members during his visit to Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Wednesday. Photo: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Office / AP
Malaysia

Malaysia pins its belt and road infrastructure hopes on deepening China ties

With the flagship East Coast Rail Link back on track, Malaysia’s transport chief visited Hong Kong to take some top tips from MTR Corp.

Asia travel

Hong Kong-Chiang Mai trip shows benefits of Belt and Road Initiative

Instead of flying from Hong Kong to Chiang Mai, the Post sets out to test infrastructure in Southeast Asia built under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. All goes well until we slip up and resort to van and bus.

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Infrastructure in Asia
The politics and economics behind Asia's big-ticket infrastructure projects.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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