(LinkAsia: June 15, 2012)
Kara Tsuboi:
To encourage new business ventures in the country, Myanmar is building up its infrastructure and paving the way for foreign investments, literally. It's planning a deep-sea port that would be Southeast Asia's largest industrial complex, and an eight-lane super-highway that would stretch from the west coast all the way to Vietnam. But there are some roadbumps. NHK tells us ethnic violence and budget constraints are threatening to derail those plans.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: June 11, 2012

Reporter:
Dawei is a port town on the Indian Ocean in southeastern Myanmar. Development is underway to transform the city into the country's first special economic zone. Dawei is set to become the western starting point for a major road running across the Indochina Peninsula. Expectations are high for the distribution route that will directly connect the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. The Myanmar government plans to improve roads and port facilities and build a power station and iron mills in the area. Its ultimate goal is to make Dawei the largest industrial area in Southeast Asia.

U Tin Maung Swe, Chairman, Dawei Special Economic Zone:
This land is valuable because it is in between the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Reporter:
But development is not proceeding as smoothly as the government wishes. Two years ago, the previous military regime granted development rights to a general contractor in neighboring Thailand. But the current government is having trouble securing the budget, which is set to exceed 50 billion dollars. Another issue is ethnic tensions involving minority groups. Last year, an armed group of the Karen people exchanged fire with government troops in an area of Dawei and the development. Karen groups have been fighting with government forces for decades. The current national union reached a cease-fire agreement with the government this January. But their distrust of the government is so deeply rooted that they say they would not approve the development of Dawei unless it helps improve their livelihoods.

Saw Thu Yeh, KNU District Leader:
We will support the development only if benefits will be distributed to all ethnic minority groups. But if the development is likely to ruin our lives and deprive us of freedom, we cannot support it.

Reporter:
Myanmar is drawing a lot of attention as Asia's last frontier. The key to its economic development lies in whether it can overcome challenges, such as ethnic tensions, and transform itself into a true democracy.

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Kara Tsuboi:
There's more bad news for the Dawei project. A Burmese exile newspaper reports that a Burmese investor with close ties to the government is apparently taking his money out of the project.

(LinkAsia: April 20, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
The South China Sea is back in the news. Last week, Chinese and Filipino patrol boats faced off over a reef known as the Scarborough Shoal. Both countries are trying to claim the reef for its valuable commercial fishing grounds and possible oil and gas deposits. Neither country says that it's willing to go to war over this, but that hasn't stopped the Philippines from flexing its muscles. It's currently conducting an annual military exercise with the United States. Our Japanese broadcast partner NHK has the story.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: April 19, 2012

Reporter:
Some 4,500 US troops and 2,300 Philippine personnel are taking part in 12 days of war games. The exercises kicked off on Monday and are designed to strengthen ties and improve joint military capabilities to protect Philippine borders.

The drills include landing practice on the western island of Palawan in the South China Sea.

In addition to the bilateral naval exercises, the capital Manila will host an earthquake simulation with six other nations, including Japan, for the first time.

Bri. Gen. Federick Padilla, US Military:
"This will undoubtedly contribute to the nations in the region having increased level of trust and cooperation to ensure regional stability."

Rear Adm. Victor Martir, Armed Forces of the Philippines:
"We continue to work together for a secure and stable Asia-Pacific region."

Reporter:
This year's exercises have been marked by political tension following a military standoff between the Philippines and China. On Tuesday last week, a Philippine navy ship and Chinese surveillance vessels faced each other at the disputed Scarborough Shoal off the Philippine island of Luzon.

Diplomatic efforts have failed to resolve the eight-day standoff. On Tuesday, the Philippines said it would call on China to jointly take the issue to the international tribunal on the law of the sea in an effort to quickly and peacefully resolve the issue.

The Philippines has far fewer naval vessels and aircraft than China. Officials insist that the joint US-Philippine military exercises are not a show of force directed at China. But regional experts say the message of the war games is clear.

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Yul Kwon:
The code name for these exercises is Balikatan, Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, to emphasize the closeness between the two nations.

(LinkAsia: February 3, 2012)

Yul Kwon:

Now, some view China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea as part of a naval strategy that stretches all the way to the Persian Gulf. For example, China is building a deep-water port in Sri Lanka. China says its just helping Sri Lanka's economy, but others in Asia are skeptical about Beijing's motives. Here's how NHK reported on the Sri Lankan port.

 

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NHK World NEWSLINE

Airdate: January 27, 2012

 

NHK Anchor:

China is currently helping to construct seaports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh, sometimes referred to as China's "string of pearls." The ports encircle India. Some observers view them with suspicion, evidence of alleged Chinese ambitions over the region. Today's report from Sri Lanka looks at a massive port facility China is building on the island, and how India might respond. NHK World's Namini Wijedasa reports.

 

Reporter:

Construction is well underway at this seaport in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka. Some facilities began operations in 2010. 85% of the cost of construction is being shouldered by China. The government claims that once complete, the port will be one of the biggest in south Asia, with capacity for 33 vessels, including some of the world's largest ships. Hambantota is situated at the mid-point of a crucial ceiling that connects the Persian Gulf with the Malacca Strait. It's an attractive position for a maritime hub.  

 

Nilantha Siriwardana, Divisional Secretariat:

Located in the middle of a ceiling, we are well-placed to offer shipping and fuel services. It's a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to develop.

 

Reporter:

The port is being built by Chinese companies. And almost all the workers are Chinese. The massive project is already a popular tourist attraction.

 

Local Resident:

We're really grateful to China. It's thanks to them that we can build such a port.

 

Reporter:

The Chinese activities in the town aren't limited to the seaport. This international airport has a 3.5-kilometer runway and is due to open this year. Here too, China is paying for some of the construction. The main contractor is also Chinese. Massive amounts of Chinese aid are transforming this once normal town into a transport center for the entire region. Some observers are concerned. They fear China might use the facilities for military purposes. But that's not a position shared by the Sri Lankan government. It welcomes Chinese economic support.

 

Basil Rajapaksa, Sri Lankan Economic Development Minister:

We will make sure that Sri Lanka will be very closely allied with India, and we will never do any harm. To my knowledge, China has never indicated anything like that kind of military assistance.

 

Reporter:

India is looking on with caution. It opened a consulate in Hambantota in November 2010 to gather information. For India, economic grow is a top priority. Confrontation with China is unappealing. For now, it has little choice but to try and keep the peace. With a careful eye on the developments taking place around the shores of the Indian Ocean. Namini Wijedasa, NHK World, Hambantota, Sri Lanka.