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Infrastructure in Asia

Infrastructure in Asia
The politics and economics behind Asia's big-ticket infrastructure projects.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Workers handle components used to build a high-speed railway in China’s Hebei province last month. Photo: Xinhua
China's economic recovery

China’s infrastructure spending may surge in 2025 to meet 5-year goals

With construction seen as vital to stabilising the national economy, authorities emphasise that there is still a lot of room to increase fiscal spending.

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Belt and Road Initiative

How a new railway will extend China’s reach into Central Asia

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Vietnam

Vietnam to build US$67 billion high-speed railway

China’s military drills

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

Top Chinese military official meets Pakistani counterpart in wake of attacks against Chinese interests in the South Asian country.

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Zhang Youxia (left), vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, meets his Pakistani counterpart Syed Asim Munir during a visit to Pakistan this week. Photo: Handout
China-Asean relations

China leveraging Laos to link up its Southeast Asian economic interests

Premier Li Qiang visited Laos earlier this month, with the relatively undeveloped and small Southeast Asia nation seen as key to China’s plans in the region.

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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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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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Security officials inspect the scene of a blast outside Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, on October 7. Photo: EPA-EFE
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.

Cambodia

Cambodia-Vietnam ties strained by new China-backed canal

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.

Pakistani security officials on Monday inspect the scene of the blast outside the Jinnah international airport in Karachi. Photo: EPA-EFE
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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Construction work on a coastal road in Mumbai, India, in March. Photo: Reuters
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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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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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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Garuda Palace, the future Presidential Palace, and ministerial offices under construction in the new capital city of Nusantara, in August. Photo: Reuters
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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Illustration: Brian Wang
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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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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Malaysia

Tourist missing after falling into Kuala Lumpur sinkhole

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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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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?

Thanks to the arrival of Chinese motorcycles, locals enjoy newfound mobility around Dolpo, part of the rugged region of Dolpa, the largest, but third-most sparsely peopled of Nepal’s 77 districts. However looming potholes on the road to development include concerns about noise and pollution. Photo: Neelima Vallangi
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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A bridge collapsed in flood-hit Morigaon, India’s Assam state, on July 5. Photo: EPA-EFE
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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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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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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Rescuers work at the collapsed terminal roof of New Delhi’s international airport on June 28. Photo: AFP
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.

Travellers walk past a logo of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad at the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Photo: Reuters
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.

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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