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Meet the superpower of high-speed rails in Southeast Asia

Meet the superpower of high-speed rails in Southeast Asia
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China’s grand plans to become a high-speed rail power in Southeast Asia is on track as a part of its “One Belt One Road” initiative. Although there are some obstacles, its ambition sounds quite feasible. We could say that its dream of becoming a high-speed rail power could begin in Southeast Asia.

Such judgment is not an exaggeration considering the recent movement of the Chinese traffic authorities. Most of all, China Railway Group Limited (CREC), one of China’s largest state-owned companies, is making every effort to win the construction of the high-speed rail project signed between Malaysia and Singapore on Tuesday. Considering the July 21st reports of Xinhua News and other state-owned media outlets, it is almost certain that China will win the project. This is because China has been making great efforts for the last three years, and the country is confident it can beat other 98 competitors from several countries including Japan and Korea. In fact, CREC is likely to win the bid, considering the atmosphere on site.

China’s high-speed trains seemingly show the country’s efforts to complete the basic blueprint of its One Belt One Road initiative by becoming a high-speed rail power in Asia./ Source: Xinhua News Agency
China’s high-speed trains seemingly show the country’s efforts to complete the basic blueprint of its One Belt One Road initiative by becoming a high-speed rail power in Asia./ Source: Xinhua News Agency

 

The recent construction commencement of the 417-kim high-speed railway project which will link China’s Yunnan province and the Lao capital of Vientiane is another example that shows that China’s ambition to become a high-speed rail power in Southeast Asia is not just a dream. The railway is expected to open after five years. Besides, the China-Thailand railway project that hit a bump recently, is likely to be on track again after being aggressively courted by China. This means that China’s high-speed rail network that would stretch more than 3,000 kilometers starting from Yunnan province to Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore is feasible. If this is the case, China could become a high-speed rail power in Southeast Asia, and even complete the basic blueprint of its One Belt One Road initiative. Ultimately, China’s railway could be connected to Europe.

Obviously, there are some obstacles. The biggest one is the United States and Japan’s efforts to curb China’s ambition to dominate the high-speed railways. Along with Korea, Japan is participating in almost every bidding for projects promoted by Southeast Asian countries in an attempt to drag China down. Concerns over Chinese technology should not be overlooked either. The reality is well represented by recent recall of Chinese-made subway trains in Singapore. Chinese train maker CSR Sifang tried to ship faulty Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) trains secretly back to China for repairs, however it was immediately revealed externally. Although China should overcome this weak point, the country is highly likely to become a high-speed rail power in Southeast Asia.

Source : huffingtonpost.com

Akhyari Hananto

I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to More understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia. I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine. I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan" I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy Less
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