Infrastructure

China Issues Warning On COVID-Hit Economy

China's premier called for more to be done to stabilise the world's second-largest economy, issuing an unusually stark warning as the country's zero-COVID strategy bites into growth.China is the last major economy welded to a policy of mass testing and hard lockdowns to eliminate virus clusters, but the strict curbs have battered businesses.Restrictions around the nation in recent months – including on the manufacturing hubs of Shenzhen and Shanghai, as well as the breadbasket

27 May 2022
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Quad Warns Against 'Change By Force'

Leaders of Japan, India, Australia and the United States (US) warned Tuesday against attempts to "change the status quo by force" as concerns grow about whether China could invade self-ruled Taiwan.A joint statement by the so-called Quad bloc avoided any direct mention of China's growing military power in the region, but left little doubt about where its concerns lie.The carefully worded document also made reference to the conflict in Ukraine, but without offering any joint pos

25 May 2022
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Lao Hopes For Economic Boost With New Railway

A new US$6 billion Chinese-built railway line opens in Lao this week, bringing hopes of an economic boost to the reclusive nation, but experts are questioning the benefits of a project that has seen thousands of farmers evicted from their land.The 414-kilometre route, due to open on 3 December, took five years to construct under China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which funds infrastructure projects aimed at increasing Beijing's clout globally.Struggling strawber

28 November 2021
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The Case For Chinese Foreign Aid

Since 2000, China has spent US$843 billion on bilateral aid. That is around US$39.5 billion per year, similar to the amount provided by the United States (US), the world’s largest donor of foreign aid.

9 November 2021
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Duterte’s Legacy: Golden Age Of Infrastructure

Now that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) is at the tail end of his presidency, many would claim that his administration has been characterised by change and some remarkable accomplishments. Hence, most Filipinos are clamouring for a continuity of the Duterte legacy.

24 October 2021
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G7: Relevant In Today’s Dynamic World Order?

The 2021 G7 summit took place in the United Kingdom (UK) at Carbis Bay in Cornwall. Since the 1970s, the G7 has met each year. The G7 is an informal bloc of industrialised democracies consisting of the United States (US), Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom (UK). The group meets annually to discuss global economic issues, health emergencies, international security, energy policy, climate crisis, and the like.

20 June 2021
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G7’s Alternative To China’s BRI Faces Obstacles

The global infrastructure plan announced by G7 leaders aims to offer developing nations a credible alternative to China's much-criticised Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – but it faces major hurdles on the ground, especially if Beijing's hiccups are any indication. United States (US) President Joe Biden was able to convince the G7 to sign onto the initiative, drawing allies into Washington's strategic rivalry with Beijing, under a plan titled, "Build Back Better Wo

17 June 2021
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Cambodia On 'Brink Of Death': Hun Sen

Spiralling COVID-19 cases have put Cambodia "on the brink of death", its strongman premier Hun Sen has warned, as the country imposed lockdowns in the capital city of Phnom Penh as well as in a nearby city.The Southeast Asian kingdom has seen COVID-19 cases surge since February, when an outbreak was first detected among its Chinese expatriate community. Authorities said last week that hospitals in Phnom Penh were running out of beds and that they had transformed schools and

16 April 2021
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Can Soft Power Rejuvenate China’s Belt And Road?

The ongoing pandemic might have slowed down the advancement of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but not its coverage in the media. Pundits and scholars across the world have kept publishing opinion articles and analyses on a daily basis speculating about its demise, or its reboot.

19 January 2021
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Analysing infrastructure’s life-cycle

Infrastructure projects are the catalyst that drives economic growth. Physical infrastructure such as roads, ports, rail, highways, airports, power and water supply are needed for the transportation of goods, people mobility, ensuring the production of manufacturers and so many other daily activities.Infrastructure, just like other types of capital expenditure, will become obsolete after years of continuous usage and exposure to various usage and environmental factors.

21 December 2019
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Should ASEAN join the Blue Dot Network?

The unveiling of the United States’ (US) Blue Dot Network raises several questions about the country’s commitment to ASEAN after signs of fading interest in the region.Seen as a counterbalance to China’s extensive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Blue Dot Network aims to promote sustainable infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

16 November 2019
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