Month: February 2023

China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Past, Present and Future

Chin@Strategy

For about two decades, China has been funding development projects across the globe. An uptick in spending happened in 2013, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping proposing the creation of what China called the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a land and sea initiative. This concept has evolved over the last 10 years into what is now known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Observers say China’s strategy to globalize may be entering a new phase. Contributors: Ahadian Utama, Indra Yoga, Nestor Aguilera. VOA

Education Part of China’s Belt and Road Push in Africa

Chin@Strategy

Under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, China has been spreading its global influence through the building of major infrastructure like railways, ports and bridges. But another key part of the BRI involves something much less tangible – spreading Chinese language and values as well as the Communist Party’s ideology. Kate Bartlett reports from Cape Town, South Africa. Videographers: Gianluigi Guercia and Rajabu Hassan. Contributor: Charles Kombe VOA

Hong Kong Ends Final COVID-19 Mandate

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Hong Kong’s leader says the city will end its COVID-19 mask mandate Wednesday, March 1. Chief Executive John Lee told reporters Tuesday the mandate would be lifted in all public spaces, but added that high-risk venues such as hospitals and nursing homes can make their own decision on whether to impose mandatory mask requirements. The Chinese territory first imposed the strict mask mandate in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was one of the last places in the world to maintain such a policy. The neighboring territory…

Abu Dhabi’s IPIC and Aabar to Pay Malaysia $1.8 Billion to Settle 1MDB Dispute

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia —  Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) and its unit Aabar Investments PJS have agreed to pay $1.8 billion to settle a legal dispute over the scandal at Malaysian state fund 1MDB, Malaysia’s finance ministry said on Monday. Malaysia in 2018 had filed a challenge in a London court against a settlement agreement between 1MDB and IPIC that had been negotiated a year earlier during the premiership of former leader Najib Razak. Najib was sentenced to 12 years in jail last year after being found guilty…

US, Canada Eliminating TikTok on Government Devices

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Canada and the United States moved forward Monday with bans of TikTok on government devices. The White House gave federal agencies 30 days to halt the use of the popular social media app, implementing a ban approved by Congress in December. The U.S. measure has limited exceptions for law enforcement, national security and research purposes. “This guidance is part of the Administration’s ongoing commitment to securing our digital infrastructure and protecting the American people’s security and privacy,” said Chris DeRusha, the federal chief information security officer. TikTok, owned by Chinese…

Bangkok the Center of China’s Big Train Ambition for ASEAN

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China wants to establish high-speed train service from its southern Yunnan province, across the Mekong and ultimately down into Singapore, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative aimed at increasing its access to the Indian Ocean. If it comes into being over the next decade, the network will pull neighboring Southeast Asian countries closer to Beijing. Thailand is pivotal to that plan, but some have raised questions about the wisdom of the project. Vijitra Duangdee has the details. Videographer: Black Squirrel Productions VOA

 Fear, Hope, Disappointment Linked to Indonesia-China Rail Project

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China’s Belt Road Initiative promised vastly improved infrastructure to connect people of various developing countries and promote commerce. But aside from widely reported delays, some projects had a hidden cost and unintended local impact, as reported by VOA’s Ahadian Utama in Jakarta, Indonesia. Videographers: Ahadian Utama and Indra Yoga. VOA

Corruption crackdown creates traffic jam at Vietnam Register

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Registering your vehicle in Vietnam has entered the slow lane due to a crackdown on corruption. In January, Vietnam Register Director Dang Viet Ha and former director Tran Ky Hinh were both arrested on charges of accepting bribes. The investigation has expanded over the past three months, with  employees across the country being investigated, prosecuted and fired in connection with allegations they also took bribes and forged documents to pass unroadworthy vehicles. Now the registry is even having to use 12 staff who are being probed for wrongdoing to reopen…

Questions Arise as China Constructs Thousands of Schools in Iraq

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It’s been more than five years since Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State terror group, yet much of Iraq is still reeling from its aftermath. The government says the country needs 12,000 new schools, and it’s looking to outside countries, including China, for help. Namo Abdullah reports that Iraqis are eager to see new schools constructed despite uncertainties surrounding the deal. VOA