Entries tagged "China"

  • Islamabad Distances Itself from BRI | March 20, 2019, 10:22 a.m.

    Pakistan has diverted around $171.6 million meant for joint infrastructure development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship effort under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), into other construction plans. This signals that Islamabad may be distancing itself from Beijing and the BRI, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Japan to Check BRI at G20 | March 18, 2019, 9:03 a.m.

    Japan plans to propose new guidelines on development assistance, tentatively titled the "G-20 principles on quality infrastructure investment,” when it hosts the Group of 20 summit in June. The proposal, which will frame anti-corruption and fiscal sustainability as key principles of infrastructure investment, is seen as an attempt to check China’s Belt and Road Initiative, reports Nikkei.

  • Philippines Turns Spotlight on China-Funded Dam | March 15, 2019, 8:51 a.m.

    A water shortage in the Philippine capital has forced President Rodrigo Duterte's administration to step in. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the shortage should prompt accelerated construction of the China-funded Kaliwa Dam, which opponents say may harm the environment, indigenous people and Philippine sovereignty, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Germany to Discuss Huawei with U.S. | March 14, 2019, 9:06 a.m.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters Germany will "consult with the U.S." about the risks of allowing Huawei to help build the country's 5G network. The announcement comes as Washington threatens to halt intelligence sharing with allies who refuse to ban the Chinese telecommunications firm from 5G equipment contracts, reports Nikkei.

  • BRI Countries Must Build Local Capacity | March 13, 2019, 10:44 a.m.

    To effectively leverage the infrastructure financing opportunities provided by the Belt & Road Initiative, countries must examine their own development strategies and build domestic skills and institutions, argues Ganeshan Wignaraja for the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Italy to Support China's Belt and Road | March 12, 2019, 9:19 a.m.

    Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Friday that he is open to signing a deal that would make Italy a member of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The move risks stirring up divisions with other European Union members distrustful of Beijing's expansionist bent, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Belt & Road Reshapes Nepal's Infrastructure | March 11, 2019, 10:49 a.m.

    China's Belt and Road Initiative is transforming Nepal's domestic infrastructure through new roads, hydropower projects, and other industrial projects. Nepal has accommodated Chinese political interests to keep Chinese investments and exports coming, reports Nikkei.

  • What Italy Wants from China's BRI | March 7, 2019, 10:21 a.m.

    Italy is preparing to become the first of the G7 group of industrialized nations to endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative, but what does this mean? James Kynge, the FT’s global China editor, looks at the main implications citing data collected by the Reconnecting Asia Project.

  • Mahathir warns Philippines about China loans | March 7, 2019, 9:02 a.m.

    While on a state visit to the Philippines, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad told journalists that if countries borrow money from China they cannot pay back, the country "may be under the control of the lender." The statement was read as a warning to Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, who accepted a $9 billion credit line from China in 2016, reports Nikkei.

  • India Is Restricting Huawei 5G | March 6, 2019, 10:48 a.m.

    New Delhi is looking to restrict Huawei’s involvement in the country’s 5G network but hopes to do so without appearing to single out the company. One option under consideration is limiting the ban to 5G projects in India’s disputed border areas.

  • Calibrating a U.S. Infrastructure Strategy for the Indo-Pacific | March 5, 2019, 9:51 a.m.

    The U.S.’ new infrastructure strategies must not only respond to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, but also consider the complex landscape of overlapping initiatives already on offer in the Indo-Pacific.

  • China to Address BRI Backlash | March 4, 2019, 10:43 a.m.

    China convenes its top political advisory bodies, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the National People's Congress this, this week. Analysts expect the meetings will address rising political backlash against China's Belt and Road initiative, reports Nikkei.

  • Huawei Says U.S. Lacks Evidence | Feb. 27, 2019, 10:09 a.m.

    A Huawei Technologies senior executive insisted that "no evidence" supports U.S. claims that his company's products pose a security risk, and he urged telecommunications businesses across the globe to choose the Chinese provider for their 5G networks.

  • Intel Ends 5G Alliance with Chinese Chipmaker | Feb. 26, 2019, 9:02 a.m.

    Intel has ended a partnership to share its latest 5G modem chips with China's state-backed mobile chipmaker, Unisoc, amid concerns that the technology transfer could cause problems in Washington, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Nepal Rail Network to Use Chinese Gauge | Feb. 22, 2019, 9:04 a.m.

    Nepal will use Chinese gauge for a planned nationwide rail network in a move that is expected to intertwine the Himalayan country more deeply with China both economically and strategically. India has opposed the use of China's standard gauge as it tries to build its own influence in Nepal, Nikkei reports.

  • China’s Digital Silk Road and Southeast Asia | Feb. 19, 2019, 10:44 a.m.

    Southeast Asia’s increasingly authoritarian leaders are finding China’s cyber model to be attractive, given that the Chinese government has been able to control and access data while at the same time dramatically growing its digital economy.

  • U.S. Sharpens Huawei Criticism | Feb. 19, 2019, 9:07 a.m.

    U.S. Vice President Mike Pence urged allies Saturday at the annual Munich Security Conference to be vigilant and avoid deals with Huawei Technologies. Pence emphasized the risks linked to equipment made by Huawei and other Chinese telecom manufacturers, saying those companies must be shunned due to national security concerns, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • China’s BRI Faces Domestic Concerns | Feb. 15, 2019, 9:12 a.m.

    Increasing criticism towards China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) coupled with China's economic squeeze has prompted Chinese skeptics of BRI to quietly ask if their government is putting its scarce resources to the right use. Although President Xi Jinping's BRI is still supported by leaders in Beijing, Xi's original ambitions are being rolled back out of public view, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Vietnam Open to Huawei 5G | Feb. 14, 2019, 9:39 a.m.

    Huawei's Vietnam chief says the company has received assurances from the country's communications minister that Vietnam remains "open" to Huawei's 5G technology. This comes on the heels of European countries announcing they will reconsider telecommunications partnerships with Huawei due to information security concerns.

  • Beijing-Backed Coal Projects Raise Concerns in Pakistan | Feb. 13, 2019, 9:31 a.m.

    Weeks after a meeting of government officials from Beijing and Islamabad, the environmental impact of China-led coal-fired power generation projects in Pakistan is still a hot topic of debate. Lack of disclosure on plans associated with $62 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which forms a crucial part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, is spurring local environmental concerns.

  • China's Vision for a Global Grid | Feb. 13, 2019, 8:51 a.m.

    In 2015, Chinese president Xi Jinping debuted a plan at the UN to knit the world's energy grids, currently fragmented along national lines, into a single global network. In reality, Xi's ambitious plan far outstrips what can realistically be achieved in the coming decade given current economic, technical, and political constraints.

  • Philippines, Huawei Prep 5G Launch | Feb. 12, 2019, 9:16 a.m.

    The Philippines' leading wireless provider Globe Telecom is on track to launch its Huawei Technologies-backed 5G service in the next quarter. The Philippines has joined Thailand and Singapore that are open to tapping Huawei for 5G amid rising security concerns related to the Chinese telecom equipment supplier, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Pakistan Disappointed by China Bailout | Feb. 11, 2019, 9:31 a.m.

    China's $2.5 billion offer to bailout Pakistan as its foreign exchange reserves dry up disappointed Islamabad, which reportedly sought $6 billion from Beijing. Pakistan's balance of payments crisis could threaten the $62 billion Beijing has invested in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, reports Nikkei.

  • World Bank May Cut China Loans | Feb. 8, 2019, 9:22 a.m.

    David Malpass, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the World Bank, told media sources on Wednesday that he hopes to cut the multilateral lender's loans to China, which he believes is too wealthy to receive large loans from the World Bank. Malpass also criticized China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, saying that the BRI "leaves countries with heavy burdens of debt," reports Nikkei.

  • Malaysia Probes Chinese Projects | Feb. 7, 2019, 9:09 a.m.

    The trial of Najib Razak, Malaysia's former prime minister, over corruption-related charges tied to the 1MDB development fund is scheduled to begin on February 12. The prosecution is expected to probe whether China-backed infrastructure projects signed by Najib's government were used to bail out 1MDB, reports Nikkei.

  • China Faces Push Back | Feb. 6, 2019, 9:48 a.m.

    China is facing new challenges after billions of dollars have been invested into Asia through Belt and Road infrastructure projects. BRI funds have increasingly flowed into Asia, accounting for 39 percent of the project's total contract value from January 2014 to June 2018, outpacing funding for Africa, which has received 30 percent.

  • The Blue Belt and Road | Feb. 6, 2019, 8:33 a.m.

    One of China's Belt and Road Initiative's biggest environmental impacts may be on the world’s water. Should BRI projects strain the world's water resources, the initiative may carry important, and perhaps negative, implications for global and local conflicts over shared water resources.

  • China’s Digital Silk Road | Feb. 5, 2019, 4:27 p.m.

    China's Digital Silk Road is ambitious and includes fiber optic cables, 5G networks, satellites, smart cities, and the devices that connect to these systems. On February 5th, the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project hosted a discussion about these developments and their implications for U.S. economic and strategic interests.

  • BRI Faces Pushback in Maldives | Feb. 5, 2019, 8:03 a.m.

    In the Maldives, government officials are examining official documents to determine the amount owed to China after reports emerged that the debt could be as high as $3.2 billion, a substantial increase over $1.3 billion in officially recorded Chinese loans.

  • China Expressing Interest in Subic Bay | Feb. 1, 2019, 10:08 a.m.

    Hanjin shipyard operator, HHIC-Phil, filed for bankruptcy after failing to pay $412 million in debts to five local banks and $900 million more to South Korean creditors. With state-backed Chinese companies offering to acquire the shipyard, Philippine's president Duterte faces a strategic dilemma regarding whether or not to accept this offer and grant the Chinese unlimited access to a vital naval and maritime asset.

  • China Wary of Saudi Refinery at Gwadar | Jan. 29, 2019, 9:15 a.m.

    Saudi Arabia plans to build Pakistan's largest oil refinery near Gwadar port, the flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The oil refinery, part of Saudi Arabia's new commitment to invest $15 billion in Pakistan over the next three years, could fuel competition with Beijing for economic leverage given China's significant investment there under CPEC, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Malaysia to Cancel $20B China-Backed Rail | Jan. 28, 2019, 9:02 a.m.

    Malaysia will cancel its $20B East Coast Rail Link project with contractor China Communications Construction Co Ltd due to the high cost, but stated that they will continue to welcome investment from China on a case by case basis.

  • Singapore, China Talk BRI Mediation Board | Jan. 24, 2019, 10:37 a.m.

    Singapore and China on Thursday agreed to set up an international mediation panel to resolve disputes arising from projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative. The agreement was inked at the first China-Singapore International Commercial Dispute Resolution Conference in Beijing, attended by some 300 delegates.

  • Xi Plans India Trip Ahead of BRI Forum | Jan. 23, 2019, 9:30 a.m.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning a visit with India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, as early as February. President Xi hopes to improve diplomatic relations with India ahead of China's second Belt and Road Initiative Forum in April, Nikkei reports.

  • Influence and Infrastructure | Jan. 22, 2019, 9:43 a.m.

    With an eye toward illuminating current issues, this report draws from examples throughout history of how states use foreign infrastructure to advance strategic objectives. It shows how China is updating and exercising tactics used by Western powers during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and how these issues, and the strategic implications they carry, are likely to intensify in the coming years.

  • China Plans Record $125B Rail Investments | Jan. 21, 2019, 5 a.m.

    Chinese investment in railways is expected to rise by about 6 percent year-over-year to $125 billion in 2019, part of a stimulus plan to shore up China’s lagging economy. China Railway, which manages the country’s rail-sector, expects to build 6,800km in new rail tracks this year, a 45 percent increase in construction over 2018.

  • Corruption Flows Along China’s Belt and Road | Jan. 18, 2019, 9:01 a.m.

    Until Chinese officials improve transparency standards, the international community should provide better alternatives to Chinese infrastructure loans and publicize the perils of opaque approaches to building infrastructure. Leaders in recipient countries must also demand greater transparency -- or risk drowning in the murky waters of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

  • Saudi Arabia Funds $10B Pakistan Refinery | Jan. 15, 2019, 9:15 a.m.

    Saudi Arabia plans to set up a $10 billion oil refinery at Pakistan's Chinese-funded Gwadar port, according to a statement given by the Saudi energy minister. Pakistan's petroleum minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, has said that the project will make Saudi Arabia an important partner in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

  • How Is China Securing Its LNG Needs? | Jan. 14, 2019, 9:30 a.m.

    In 2017, China surpassed South Korea to become the world’s second-largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer. In a few years, it might overtake Japan. But how is China securing its LNG needs?

  • Pakistan Dam Draws Scrutiny | Jan. 11, 2019, 9:19 a.m.

    The government of Pakistan awarded a $2.21 billion contract to build the Mohmand dam to a consortium of China Gezhouba and Descon—the latter founded by Abdul Razak Dawood, the prime minister's adviser on commerce and industry. The conflict of interest has drawn scrutiny from the government's leading opposition party which has called for an investigation of the project's procurement process.

  • China Turns To Overseas Hydropower Projects | Jan. 10, 2019, 9:20 a.m.

    China Three Gorges Corp, operator of the world's largest hydropower plant, is turning to projects offshore as domestic costs soar and space runs out on China's crowded rivers. The company, which already has business in more than 40 countries, will focus mostly on South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • European Fault Lines and Chinese Crossroads | Jan. 9, 2019, 12:47 p.m.

    The European Commission has become increasingly critical of various Chinese investments within the EU, fueling an ongoing debate within Europe about investment screening. While the EU released a framework for foreign investment screening implicitly aimed at China in November 2018, the debate has exposed cross-cutting divisions within Europe. Looking ahead to 2019, we should not expect a clear resolution anytime soon.

  • China To Build 3,000 km Pan-Asian Railway Network | Jan. 9, 2019, 8:56 a.m.

    Beijing is currently working on construction of a high-speed rail line in northern Thailand. Under its planned 3,000-km pan-Asian railway network, Chinese rail lines will extend even further south, stretching through Malaysia and feeding into Singapore, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Making Solid Tracks: North Korea's Railway Connections with China and Russia | Jan. 8, 2019, 10:37 a.m.

    Should inter-Korean cooperation result in the re-joining of North and South Korea's railways, it could connect the peninsula through China and Russia to a rail network that spans Eurasia. However, such connections will require a long and costly modernization process to fully integrate the systems in a commercially viable way, complicating the future of these potentially transformative links.

  • Malaysia To Review 1MDB Infrastrcture Deals | Jan. 8, 2019, 9:20 a.m.

    Malaysia will review claims that China signed over-valued infrastructure projects to bail out Malaysia's state investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad, under former Prime Minister Najib Razak's tenure.

  • Pakistan Asks China for CPEC Shift | Jan. 4, 2019, 9:26 a.m.

    Pakistan is asking China to shift its investment focus from power and infrastructure projects to industrialization, agriculture, and education as regards the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Japan To Build "Smart Cities" in ASEAN Nations | Jan. 3, 2019, 9:18 a.m.

    In an effort to provide an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative, Japan will help build "smart cities" across Southeast Asia, using artificial intelligence and networked devices to tackle problems like road congestion and energy conservation, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • China Approves $34B Railway Projects | Jan. 2, 2019, 11:15 a.m.

    China's state planner has approved inter-city railway projects in the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui, with a combined total investment value of $33.82 billion and a total length of 1,063 km.

  • 19 Projects to Watch in 2019 | Dec. 21, 2018, 11:20 a.m.

    Reconnecting Asia tracks infrastructure developments across Eurasia, a vast landmass that includes 60 percent of the global economy. Every day, new infrastructure projects are announced, some are advanced, and others encounter obstacles. Here is a selection of projects and trends we will be watching in 2019.

  • The Maldives Owes China $1.4B For Infrastructure Loans | Dec. 20, 2018, 9:18 a.m.

    Under former president Abdulla Yameen, the Maldives took substantial loans from Beijing for infrastructure projects. $850 million of a $1.4 Chinese loan is expected to be drawn by year end as Beijing advances its projects in the country, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.