Guests were enticed with the promise of luxury villas overlooking aquamarine seas; a world-first crypto resort where the tech elite could commune over the latest digital innovation in opulent surrounds. The promotional material from June last year pitched a sprawling, futuristic development that would hug the coastline of Timor-Leste, one of the world’s poorest countries, and donate a percentage of profits to philanthropy. But in February, when a joint investigative team visited the proposed site of the AB Digital Technology Resort – separated from Dili airport by a barbed-wire fence…
Tag: Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste president hits back at Australian criticism of new partnership with China
Timor-Leste’s president has hit back at criticism of a new partnership between his country and China, which includes plans to enhance military engagement, accusing detractors of “imagining Chinese ghosts”. José Ramos-Horta, serving as president for the second time, told the Guardian that both Timor-Leste and China were “confused” by the concerns raised over the upgrading of ties between the two countries to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” announced last week. Australia’s relationship with China is also designated a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, but Timor-Leste’s had been linked to concerns from Canberra and…
‘Playing the China card’ or a serious regional threat? Timor Leste’s new deal with Beijing
It lies just to the north of Australia, but the tiny and impoverished country of Timor Leste is strengthening ties with China as it faces a looming fiscal crisis – a move that comes after decades of mistreatment by Canberra and raises difficult questions for its leaders. Timor-Leste, which is situated 680km from Darwin and has massive and untapped undersea resources, surprised the region last week when it formally upgraded bilateral relations with China. A joint statement included plans to enhance military cooperation and explore developments of Timor-Leste’s oil and…