The Funan Techo Canal — a US$1.7 billion waterway — reflects Cambodia’s growing confidence and assertiveness in pursuing national interests. This water infrastructure projects Cambodia as a viable and dynamic little tiger, no longer a war-torn nation. Under Prime Minister Hun Manet’s leadership, Cambodia is taking a more proactive stance overall despite facing objections from neighbours like Vietnam that stand to bear the direct impact of this naval logistics scheme.
When finished, the 180km waterway — 100 metres in width and 5.4 metres in depth — will connect Phnom Penh Autonomous Port with the Kep coastline at the Gulf of Thailand, Currently, Cambodia relies heavily on using Vietnamese ports for maritime transport, notably that of Cai Mep. The new canal would significantly reduce this dependency, as Cambodian ships now can completely bypass Vietnamese territory.
In full: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2825686/cambodia-starts-to-flex-its-muscles
