Backgrounder: How Chinese Infrastructure is Reshaping ASEAN Trade

Barges on Guangxi Province's Xijiang River, which will soon be connected to the Beibu Gulf via a new canal. Image via China Daily

Even as China’s territorial wrangles with some of its South China Sea neighbors show no sign of letting up, Chinese infrastructure is taking its trade relations with Southeast Asia to new levels. 

In particular, ambitious new land-sea corridors are credited for significantly speeding up trade in the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trading bloc.

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