Cambodia breaks ground on China-funded canal

PREK TAKEO, Cambodia – Cambodia officially commenced construction on the contentious Funan Techo canal on Monday, a $1.7 billion project aimed at linking Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand. Spanning 180 kilometers, the canal is expected to enhance shipping efficiency to the country’s deep-sea port in Sihanoukville while reducing dependence on Vietnamese ports. However, the project has raised significant environmental concerns and could potentially strain diplomatic relations with Vietnam, which is apprehensive about the canal's impact on its Mekong Delta agriculture. The canal, a key initiative of Prime Minister Hun Manet, who succeeded his father Hun Sen last year, is seen as a means to bolster national pride and economic development. Billboards promoting the canal's benefits have proliferated across the countryside, with Hun Manet asserting that the project will enhance Cambodia's territorial integrity. The construction will be led by the China Road and Bridge Corporation, with Cambodian companies holding a 51% stake to ensure local control. Vietnam has expressed its concerns discreetly, fearing the canal could shift Cambodia away from its influence. Analysts suggest that the project reflects Cambodia's growing ties with China, which has invested heavily in the nation through various infrastructure projects. The Cambodian government has committed to collaborating with Vietnam to assess the canal's environmental impact, particularly on the Mekong River ecosystem. Despite the ambitious goals, the canal's future remains uncertain amid regional tensions and environmental apprehensions. Critics worry that the project could serve as a strategic asset for Chinese military interests, especially following Cambodia's recent military exercises with China.