Work at Xayaburi Dam Continues

Published on Jul 20, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Work on a controversial dam across the Mekong River in northern Laos is still proceeding despite last week’s claims that the project had been postponed, a source said. The source was speaking after returning from a visit to the Xayaburi dam site organized by the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines on Monday and Tuesday. About 70 people took part in the visit including the US, German, French and Cambodian ambassadors in Vientiane as well as Vietnamese and Australian diplomats, the source said. Read more in The Cambodia Herald. .

Devillers flies to China

Published on Jul 19, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — A French architect detained in Cambodia for several weeks has flown to Shanghai where he is wanted for questioning in connection with the biggest political scandal to hit China in decades. Patrick Devillers was initially arrested here following a request from China where authorities are engaged in the high-profile investigation of disgraced politician Bo Xilai and his wife Gu Kailai. Listen to more on VOA. .

Guide Book Angers Hanoi

Published on Jul 18, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Raids by police are not uncommon in Vietnam but visits to bookshops to confiscate issues of travel guide Lonely Planet are unusual. The guidebook has raised the ire of authorities because its maps mention the South China Sea, which in Vietnam is firmly referred to as the East Sea (China calls it the South Sea). The vast oil, gas and fish-rich area and the Spratly and Paracel islands are contested by Vietnam and China. The Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia also lay partial claim to the area. Read more from Helen Clark in the Sydney Morning Herald. .

Thai Tusk Bust

Published on Jul 18, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — For the past 12-months authorities and environmentalists across Southeast Asia have been warning of a massive surge in the illegal wildlife trade, particularly elephant tusks and rhinoceros horn, fuelled largely by demand in China. In Bangkok those fears are being realized after customs officers seized nearly half a ton of ivory hidden in wooden boxes on a flight from Kenya and valued at US$700,000. This came after another seizure worth US$2 million in New York last week with the arrest of two jewelers. Read more in The Diplomat. .

Losing the Limelight

Published on Jul 17, 2012 by Luke Hunt

FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — Cambodia rarely gets the chance to shine on the international stage. A decade ago it scored kudos for its first-time effort as chair to the ten-nation Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), a significant milestone for a country that was still struggling after 30 years of war. Phnom Penh’s diplomats revelled in the summits that came with the job and in the company of their guests, including America’s then-secretary of state, Colin Powell, and Japan’s prime minister at the time, Junichiro Koizumi. The dignitaries lent an unprecedented air of political celebrity to the capital. Since then, however, Cambodia’s external relations have changed. With billions of dollars of aid at stake, Cambodia has snuggled up to China....