"Cambodia PM launches project linking Mekong River to sea via canal", 5 August 2024

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet … launched a controversial US$1.7 billion canal project that aims to provide a new link from the Mekong River to the sea.

At a launch event in Prek Takeo, southeast of the capital Phnom Penh, Manet called the 180km project "historic", as fireworks shot into the air and drums sounded…

But the project comes shrouded in uncertainty, including its main purpose - whether for shipping or irrigation - who will fund it, and how it will affect the flow of the Mekong - one of the world's longest rivers.

Conservationists have long warned that the river, which supports up to a quarter of the world's freshwater fish catch and half of Vietnam's rice production, is at risk from infrastructure projects, pollution, sand mining and climate change…

Cambodia has notified the Mekong River Commission of its plans for the canal, but Vietnam wants more information about the project…

…, the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a Chinese construction giant that has financed other infrastructure in Cambodia, agreed to a feasibility study of the project.

Cambodian officials have suggested the Chinese state-owned company could finance part of the canal, but CRBC has not released its study or made any public commitment.

While Cambodia is a close ally of Beijing, Hun Sen has denied that the canal will be part of China's Belt and Road infrastructure plan.