The Ream naval base in Cambodia is part of “China’s String of Pearls strategy”, a naval military strategy of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to ensure China’s control over ports and strategic locations in the world’s seas and oceans. This strategy includes establishing Chinese naval bases from the South China Sea to Djibouti and beyond, … Read more
Indonesia is reviving plans to extend its Chinese-backed high-speed rail network, with ambitions to connect Jakarta with Surabaya, the nation’s second-largest city. But analysts say familiar complications could stall the project, from regulatory hurdles to the mounting debt owed to China. The proposed extension would build on Whoosh – Southeast Asia’s first high speed rail … Read more
The humid streets of Jakarta have been buzzing with tech excitement ever since the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has set up a large data center in the center of Jakarta. At the same time, unease is heard more and more in local tech communities and government offices: What price will Indonesia have to pay for … Read more