Related Posts

As China Builds the Grid, Laos’s Power Ambitions Enter a New Phase

2026 marks a strategic turning point for Laos in its ambition to become the “Battery of Southeast Asia”, with two mega power transmission projects advancing this year. On the first day of January 2026, the 230 kV Thavieng-Mahaxay transmission line ...

With Chen Heyi

Independent China-Southeast Asia Analyst
As China Builds the Grid, Laos’s Power Ambitions Enter a New Phase
Power transmission towers in Laos. Image via Électricité du Laos.
2026 marks a strategic turning point for Laos in its ambition to become the “Battery of Southeast Asia”, with two mega power transmission projects advancing this year. On the first day of January 2026, the 230 kV Thavieng-Mahaxay transmission line project officially broke ground. ...

China and ASEAN Enter a Pivotal Year, With Trade, AI and the South China Sea in Play

As 2026 begins, the China-ASEAN relationship is evolving across several fronts, including trade, Artificial Intelligence, infrastructure development, and South China Sea. With the ASEAN's chairmanship held by the Philippines, the year opens with distinct political and institutional dynamics for the region.  ...