Like how there is no way in Hell China can feed it's self so it's unilaterally taking the reigns of SE Asia?
China
China's Southeast Asia investments: A blessing or a curse?
For Southeast Asian countries, an increased economic cooperation with China can be a double-edged sword. Beijing's investment initiatives are not only aimed at regional connectivity, they also seek ideological hegemony.
According to Asian Development Bank estimates, the infrastructure needs for the Southeast Asian region are increasing. To keep pace with their economic growth and growing populations, the countries in the region need huge investments in energy supply, transportation, telecommunication, water capacity and sanitation.
Southeast Asian governments are increasingly aware of an impending infrastructure crisis.
In September last year, the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on the "Master Plan on ASEAN connectivity 2015," which seeks to expand the region's railway networks.
However, the implementation of the ASEAN master plan has been very slow, according to Yap Kioe Sheng of the University of Cardiff. "As far as I can tell, there has been little progress."
Wolfram Schaffar, a political scientist at the University of Vienna, shares a similar view. "The ASEAN infrastructure plan is being slowed down by a continuing economic downturn in the region. The countries are mostly investing in low-cost projects, but they have bigger plans that they cannot execute due to the economic situation."
In short, the countries have little money, and the infrastructure construction, especially of new railway networks, is very expensive. This is where China's economic might comes into play.
China
China's Southeast Asia investments: A blessing or a curse?
For Southeast Asian countries, an increased economic cooperation with China can be a double-edged sword. Beijing's investment initiatives are not only aimed at regional connectivity, they also seek ideological hegemony.
According to Asian Development Bank estimates, the infrastructure needs for the Southeast Asian region are increasing. To keep pace with their economic growth and growing populations, the countries in the region need huge investments in energy supply, transportation, telecommunication, water capacity and sanitation.
Southeast Asian governments are increasingly aware of an impending infrastructure crisis.
In September last year, the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on the "Master Plan on ASEAN connectivity 2015," which seeks to expand the region's railway networks.
However, the implementation of the ASEAN master plan has been very slow, according to Yap Kioe Sheng of the University of Cardiff. "As far as I can tell, there has been little progress."
Wolfram Schaffar, a political scientist at the University of Vienna, shares a similar view. "The ASEAN infrastructure plan is being slowed down by a continuing economic downturn in the region. The countries are mostly investing in low-cost projects, but they have bigger plans that they cannot execute due to the economic situation."
In short, the countries have little money, and the infrastructure construction, especially of new railway networks, is very expensive. This is where China's economic might comes into play.