Infrastructure Development
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Global Commons
Protecting the global commons against rising threats to undersea, space infrastructure
U.S. Army 8th Theater Sustainment Command, National Security Law Team The security of critical undersea and space networks has become a central concern for governments, businesses and international organizations. These vital cables, pipelines, satellites and data centers form the backbone of global communications, trade and security. As geopolitical tensions escalate, the need to safeguard these assets is increasingly urgent. There…
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Global Commons
PRC OKs massive hydropower dam across Himalayan gorge
FORUM Staff The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has approved plans for what would be the world’s largest hydropower dam on the lower Yarlung Tsangpo River despite concern that it would harm downstream communities and fragile landscapes in India and Bangladesh. Experts also say tectonic plates below the Himalayan mountains, where the multistage Medog Hydropower Station is planned, make the…
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Conflicts - Tensions
PRC funding in doubt for Cambodian canal, other promised projects
FORUM Staff Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol said in May 2024 that a People’s Republic of China (PRC)-owned company would “totally” fund the Funan Techo canal. Phnom Penh touted the project linking the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand as an economic game changer. By August, Cambodian leader Hun Manet said at the project’s groundbreaking that the PRC…
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Global Commons
PRC infrastructure scheme drowns Laos in heavy debt, high inflation
Voice of America Laos is straining under soaring inflation made worse by the stress of massive loans owed mostly to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for a series of mega-projects that have yet to pay off. The landlocked nation of nearly 8 million people has already deferred some payments. But economists and analysts say Beijing may start demanding a…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Internet access, credibility plummet in Myanmar, report finds
FORUM Staff Myanmar, mired in a civil war triggered by a military coup in February 2021, has joined the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at the bottom of an annual assessment of internet freedom in 72 nations worldwide. The Freedom House rankings evaluate internet access, content limits and user rights violations in the countries, which comprise about 87% of global…
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Global Commons
Indonesian Army expands clean water, environmental programs
Gusty Da Costa The Indonesian Army is tackling clean water shortages and supporting environmental sustainability through its Manunggal Air program. The initiative, launched in 2022, has established thousands of clean water points across the country, many of them serving rural and remote areas with limited access to basic necessities. Led by Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak, the Army’s chief of staff, the…
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Global Commons
Indo-Pacific nations bolstering defense of undersea cables against emerging vulnerabilities
Tom Abke Data is omnipresent, and undersea cables are vital for transmitting everything from voice and video to financial transactions and confidential government communications. Recent incidents have highlighted their vulnerabilities, however, prompting Indo-Pacific nations to launch collaborative efforts such as the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, while also strengthening their individual capacity to monitor, protect and repair the…
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Global Commons
Palau-U.S. defense projects boost air domain awareness, operational flexibility
Tom Abke The island nation of Palau and the United States are partnering to increase air domain awareness and enhance operational flexibility and airpower projection in the Indo-Pacific, officials and analysts say. Collaborative defense infrastructure projects in Palau include construction of an uncrewed tactical multi-mission, over-the-horizon radar (TACMOR) facility on Babeldaob Island, and the restoration and recertification of a military…
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Global Commons
Armed forces initiatives improve quality of life in Indonesia’s Papua
Gusty Da Costa Indonesia’s military is enhancing infrastructure and engagement with residents in the Papua province, an isolated region at the nation’s far eastern end. The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) is building a major road to connect the island’s interior cities, improving educational opportunities, supporting health care services and distributing essential supplies. The TNI also had a significant presence during…
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Global Commons
Philippine Armed Forces, partner agencies drive Marawi’s post-siege rehabilitation
Maria T. Reyes The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in Marawi. The initiative began after the 2017 Battle of Marawi, when government forces defeated Islamic State group-affiliated militants who held the southern city under siege for months. The DND, in coordination with government agencies and local leaders, is playing…
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