Country
Laos
Golden Triangle Gambling Zone the World’s ‘Worst’ SEZ, Group Says
By Sebastian Strangio
The Golden Triangle SEZ has been credibly accused of involvement in human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and the trade in endangered wildlife products.
Thai Government Releases Exiled Lao Democracy Activist on Bail
By Sebastian Strangio
But Khoukham Keomanivong's arrest on the weekend was a sign of increasing risks facing foreign dissidents in Thailand.
Will China’s Railway in Laos Help Bolster Its ‘Soft Power’?
By Daniele Carminati
The inauguration of the long-promised rail line offers Beijing a chance to burnish its image in mainland Southeast Asia.
China’s COVID-19 Border Restrictions Wreak Economic Havoc in Southeast Asia
By Sebastian Strangio
Tighter customs clearance procedures have led producers to dump truckloads of fruit by the roadside.
Sino-Thai High-Speed Rail Project Takes Another Step Forward
By Sebastian Strangio
The Thai Transport Minister says the design for the second phase of the line is now complete.
Laos Prepares to Welcome Foreign Tourists From January 1
By Sebastian Strangio
The limited opening ends an 18-month shutdown that has had serious impacts on the country's economy.
Laos Unlocked
By Nicholas Bosoni
A trip on the maiden journey of the $5.9 billion Laos-China Railway.
Laos-China Railway Inaugurated Amid Mounting Debt Concerns
By Sebastian Strangio
The $5.9 billion railway, an impressive feat of Chinese engineering, is set to tie Laos ever closer to its northern neighbor.
What Chinese Dams in Laos Tell Us About the Belt and Road Initiative
By Phillip Guerreiro
Analyzing Chinese dams in Laos provides insight into the local origins and drivers of the BRI, particularly along China’s borderland regions.
In Rare Three-Party Conclave, Vietnam Pushes Back Against Growing Chinese Influence
By Sebastian Strangio
Hanoi is becoming increasingly unnerved by the growing Chinese influence over its longstanding clients, Cambodia and Laos.
Laos Tightens COVID-19 Restrictions as Infections Reach New Peak
By Sebastian Strangio
Like many of its neighbors, the nation has struggled to contain recent outbreaks of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Despite Crime Concerns, Laos Authorizes Cryptocurrency Trial
By Sebastian Strangio
But little good will come from authorizing the mining and trading of the volatile digital currencies.