Myanmar

China Faces $50 Billion ‘Belt and Road’ Shortfall in Southeast Asia

The Lowy Institute of Australia published a report on Wednesday that found China’s funding for its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Southeast Asia is about $50 billion short of its commitments, apparently due to a variety of causes, from political instability in BRI countries to reduced demand for fossil fuel projects.

This aerial photo taken on April 26, 2023, shows a construction site of the East Coast Rai

Report: China Destroying Myanmar with Rare Earth Mining for ‘Green’ Energy

Chinese-owned companies in Myanmar are allegedly responsible for illegal mining operations that are destroying the natural landscape of Myanmar’s border region with China, local miners of dysprosium and terbium — two heavy rare earth minerals used in clean energy products and smart electronics — told the organization Global Witness for a report published on Tuesday.

A depiction of a rare earth mining operation in Myanmar. (AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)

Myanmar Junta Snubbed by ASEAN, Political Prisoners Freed

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced over the weekend that General Min Aung Hlaing, leader of the military junta in Myanmar, will not be invited to the association’s October 26-28 summit. The unprecedented snub of Gen. Hlaing was welcomed by the Burmese opposition, which asked ASEAN to go even further and invite a representative from the civilian shadow government.

TOPSHOT - Myanmar's Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Myanma