Laos: China’s helping economic hand

IWTW ‘Explore’ is about highlighting different trends around the world and presenting audiences with both sides of the story in order to facilitate a better understanding of world issues and decision making in the spheres of the economy, society, environment, technology and politics.

What is it about?

It is small, impoverished, and one of few communist states left in Asia. Laos has, in recent years, seen an increase in support from neighboring China. But at what cost?

From fast trains to dams and bridges over the Mekong river — China is financing large-scale infrastructure projects in its neighboring country. For the first time, Laos has a chance to develop — but is the country becoming dependent? Might Laos be falling into a debt trap that could threaten stability, ultimately benefiting Beijing? DW correspondent Sebastian Glaab traveled to Laos to take a closer look at a dam under construction.

Why should I watch it?

  • More than 89K views since 13 mar 2023
  • More than 1.3K likes

Full documentary (by DW Documentaries)

IWTW note: The opinions in the video don’t necessarily represent those of IWTW. The goal of IWTW ‘Explore’ is to inform its audience about interesting developments around the world through a selection of short and long documentaries. IWTW considers those documentaries to be great starting points for further discussion. I strive to update the selection of content should ‘better’ documentaries emerge over time.

RELATED POSTS

Cambodia: how microcredit is making the world’s poor even poorer

Microcredits for the world’s poor have long been considered the ideal way to combat poverty. But this film documents a bleak scenario

China: nightlife in the megacity Chongqing (2024)

This megacity is growing at a blistering place. But beware, it is not a place for anyone with a fear of heights, or a sensitive stomach.

Armenia: small country, big history (2024)

A tour through the history of Armenia, a small country which, since independence in 1991, has been caught between difficult neighbours: Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Japan: the Fukushima disaster, a nuclear nightmare (2023)

There has been endless hand-wringing and finger-pointing following the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster. But the full effects of the disaster are still shrouded in secrecy.