Government
International relations
China is making Mekong friends
Since Chinese President Xi Jinping took over power in 2012, Southeast Asia has become a focal point of China’s geopolitical ambitions. Instead of the clandestine and illegal tactics seen under Mao Zedong, the current strategy combines two major approaches: building Chinese-led institutional mechanisms and buying ...
China using ‘debtbook diplomacy’ to spread its strategic aims in Asia Pacific
The Chinese government is leveraging billions of dollars in debts to gain political leverage with developing countries across Asia and the Pacific, a new report presented to the US State Department claims. Keep reading ...
U.S. criticizes China for shielding Myanmar from U.N. action
The United States indirectly criticized China on Monday for shielding Myanmar from strong U.N. Security Council action over a military crackdown against mainly Rohingya Muslims that the U.S. and other countries have denounced as ethnic cleansing. Keep reading ...
Cambodia-Laos Border Dispute: Geopolitical Flashpoint or Playing Politics?
Cambodia’s usually low-key dispute over an unmarked stretch of its remote 540-km long border with northern neighbour Laos made international headlines last August when long-time Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a stern six-day ultimatum for Laotian troops to withdraw from the disputed region or ...
China, Laos vow to boost cooperation on law enforcement, security
China and Laos have pledged to boost cooperation on law enforcement and security and maintain regional stability. The pledge came as visiting Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi held talks separately with Chansamone Chanyalath, Lao minister of national defence and Somkeo ...
Rising China benefits Cambodia, whole world: Cambodian ruling party MP
Suos Yara, a member of parliament from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party said that the rising China has benefited Cambodia and the whole world. In an opinion published on the Phnom Penh Post newspaper on Wednesday, the MP said China is “not a threat to ...
China-initiated eye protection program launched in Laos
A program to promote scientific eye protection knowledge and to provide free treatment in Lao schools, namely “Lancang-Mekong Bright Journey to Laos”, has been launched in Lao capital Vientiane on Thursday. The program is the second edition of the “Mekong Bright Journey” initiated by China, ...
Chinese port project could land Myanmar in debt trap
The Myanmar town of Kyaukpyu, nestled around a small fishing port on the Bay of Bengal, has the air of a place expecting to get rich soon. In the market, stalls of seafood unloaded from wooden fishing boats have been joined by stacks of Chinese-made ...
Little Laos risks losing it all to China
A new city is fast emerging on the China-Laos border, a manifestation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that if fully actualized will serve as Beijing’s new gateway to Southeast Asia. Once known for car smuggling and glitzy casinos catering to Chinese punters, the remote ...
IUCN And Conservation International Concerned About Mekong Tributaries
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Conservation International, in collaboration with the Cambodia National Mekong Committee, disseminated a report May 10 on the Freshwater Health Index, a tool to assess freshwater ecosystem health in the Sesan, Srepok and Sekong rivers, which are major tributaries ...
