On August 5, 2024, Cambodia officially broke ground on the 180-kilometer long Funan Techo Canal, designed to connect the Mekong River with the Gulf of Thailand. The Mekong is one of the world’s longest transboundary waterways, running through China and five Southeast Asian countries: Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The new canal is scheduled to be completed as early as 2028. It has triggered potent reactions from both interested countries and outside global powers.
Much of the media focus has been on Vietnam’s concerns in several areas, including the flow of the Mekong River and the loss of potential shipping earnings from Cambodia-bound vessels. But more broadly, in other countries including major powers, the canal has fueled general fears about the Mekong’s prospects and China’s role within it. Cambodia, meanwhile, has insisted on its right to build the canal and emphasized its own agency in navigating any concerns.
In full: https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/cambodias-funan-techo-canal-fuels/
