TOPIC

Infrastructure in Asia

Infrastructure in Asia
The politics and economics behind Asia's big-ticket infrastructure projects.
A high-speed train leaves the Yichang North Railway Station in China’s Hubei province on December 26. Photo: Xinhua
Infrastructure

China plans 19% high-speed rail expansion by 2030 amid global dominance

Beijing aims to expand the nation’s entire rail network to about 180,000km as part of 2026-2030 infrastructure push, boosting connectivity nationwide.

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Xinjiang

China’s mega expressway tunnel opens in Xinjiang, halves north-south travel time

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The Philippines

Can UN anti-corruption pact bring Zaldy Co back to Philippines?

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The Philippines

Chinese involvement stalls Manila Bay bridge project due to security fears

Philippines delays US$124 million infrastructure project after a maritime group raised concerns against China Harbour Engineering Company.

Illustration of Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge Project. Photo: Handout
The Philippines

Can ‘passive’ Philippine body deliver accountability in anti-corruption fight?

Limited powers for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure may hamper its ability to tackle flood control fraud, analysts say.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s China-funded ‘Whoosh’ railway faces corruption probe

The investigation follows allegations that Indonesia paid almost three times more per kilometre than China did for its own high-speed rail.

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Malaysia

Bukit Bintang upgrade to rival ‘Singapore’s Orchard Road’ draws Malaysian ire

Social media users urge officials to fix flooding issues and ageing infrastructure instead as Kuala Lumpur already has a ‘vibe’ of its own.

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People crowd the Bukit Bintang shopping area in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in July. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images
China-Asean relations

New Phnom Penh airport opens with fanfare as Cambodia touts regional, China ties

Officials and business leaders at opening ceremony said the airport, built in part by Chinese state firms, will make Cambodia a travel hub.

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The Philippines

Philippines’ crumbling bridges hinder Marcos’ infrastructure clean-up push

While officials blamed overloaded trucks, experts urged the government to build modern infrastructure and stop corruption in public works.

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Infrastructure

Will China’s next 5-year plan rewrite its infrastructure playbook?

While the old ‘megaproject’ model was effective, upcoming blueprint could provide outline for an updated, tech-driven outlook.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Diplomacy

Opinion | How poorer nations can fund development as global aid and credit retreat

Emerging economies can put off tax reforms no longer. Donor countries can encourage this shift through performance-linked debt instruments.

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A Burundian government official speaks to newly arrived Congolese refugees while weighing a sack of rice from the final batches delivered by the now-dismantled US Agency for International Development (USAID), at the Cishemere Transit Centre near Buganda, on May 6. Photo: AFP
Chinese offshore investment

Will a Chinese firm’s Bali beach lift project alter the local landscape?

182-metre glass lift will transport tourists down the cliffside at popular Kelingking Beach in symbolic project backed by Chinese investment.

Rohingya Muslims

Opinion | Why China should lead commission for a phased Rohingya repatriation

Given its Rakhine interests and diplomatic clout, Beijing could oversee a plan for return, ensuring security, rights and economic reintegration.

Singapore

‘Zero disruptions’ unrealistic, but Singapore vows stronger rail reliability

Authorities will ‘work doubly hard’ to minimise service disruption, with a task force set up to address network resilience issues.

Commuters on an MRT train in Singapore. A string of service faults across several MRT and LRT lines in recent months disrupted travel in the city state. Photo: Roy Issa
Northern Metropolis

Outside In | To speed up Northern Metropolis construction, get in bamboo scaffolders

Bamboo scaffolders offer speed, cost efficiency and sustainability. And the boom in demand will give the ancient craft a much-needed lifeline.

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A scaffolding worker working on Causeway Place at Great George Street, in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, on April 7. Photo: Sam Tsang
Malaysia

Asian Angle | Malaysia’s 13th plan offers pocket-sized reforms for a middle-income quagmire

With a focus on economic complexity and social mobility, the 13th Malaysia Plan aims to address decades of underperformance and stagnation.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh buys more power from India to meet rising electricity needs

The country has been boosting power imports and local coal-fired generation due to gas infrastructure challenges and to cut costs.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Why the Greater Bay Area should host the 2036 Olympics

With most of the infrastructure required already in place, resources can go towards enhancing the experience for athletes and spectators.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Indonesia

Video | Budget cuts raise doubts about Indonesia’s new capital

Despite officials insisting a move from the sinking current capital Jakarta is on track, the president’s inaction and budget cuts suggest otherwise.

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Hong Kong can’t let its construction sector be captured by bad actors

Corruption or not, once malpractice takes hold, good contractors will be driven out, with serious consequences for public costs and safety.

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Banking & finance

China’s belt and road investments plays to Hong Kong’s strengths: HSBC

City set for bigger role in green finance, offshore yuan as initiative shifts towards private sector-led projects, economist says.

New wind turbine blades sit at a factory on July 15, 2022 in Handan, in China’s northern province of Hebei. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
Belt and Road Initiative

China steps up Belt and Road Initiative funding with focus on Central Asia

The region received an ‘unusually high concentration’ of investment, particularly in metals and mining, new research has found.

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Under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, more investment and construction has been sent to Central Asia, with Kazakhstan the largest beneficiary. Photo: Xinhua
Tibet

China’s infrastructure push in Tibet aims to elevate investments on world’s roof

Fresh investment and promotion plans follow President Xi’s visit to the Tibetan Plateau, where environmental and transport challenges remain.

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Infrastructure

Video | World’s tallest bridge completes load test in China

The Huajiang Canyon Bridge in the southwestern province of Guizhou is 625 metres above the river.

China-India relations

Opinion | How Modi’s visit to China can reshape Asia’s future

To build on their new-found consensus, both powers must not only set shared goals but also wisely manage challenges.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China Future Tech briefing

AI | China, US lead AI-fuelled data centre construction surge

AI will drive a US$6.7 trillion global spending boom on data centres up to 2030, according to McKinsey, testing nations’ abilities to construct sufficient power supplies.

China, US lead AI-fuelled data centre construction surge
Nepal

Deadly floods sever Nepal-China trade, exposing climate risk

The flood’s destruction of a key bridge and container depot halted an estimated US$724 million worth of annual trade with China.

Diplomacy

Editorial | Transparency key to easing regional concerns over Tibet mega-dam

With delicate diplomatic handling, this ‘project of the century’ can build goodwill and help South Asia’s water-dependent economies.

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