The Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted joint exercises with the Lao People’s Army from 5 to 18 July 2024. Chinese troops were transported to Laos via the railway recently built under the Belt and Road Initiative. Thus, the railway was also used to bring military hardware to Laos, and Laotian soldiers were trained in the use of Chinese weapons. The joint exercises between China and Laos demonstrated China’s intention to increase coordination with militaries in the Southeast Asian region.
The Chinese Army issued a press release stating that the exercise involved live firing with a variety of weapons, including heavy machine guns, sniper rifles and grenade launchers. It also said that its engineers were using unmanned aerial vehicles in Laos, and a Chinese military expert told the state-owned Global Times Newspaper that Chinese drones and robots were enhancing reconnaissance flight capabilities. Lieutenant Colonel Santi Chanthalangsone, Laos’ Head of Military Training, said: “The Chinese may have weapons and expertise that could be useful to us. This exercise will strengthen our military ties and help in the restructuring and modernisation of our armed forces.”[i]
Although a small country, Laos, a one-party state ruled by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, is strategically located along the Mekong River, an important trade link between Southeast Asia and China.[ii] Laos also has a history of conflict. During the Vietnam War, it was the most bombed country in history. Because the war did not only stay within the borders of Vietnam and spread to neighbouring countries. Still unexploded bombs in Laos continue to pose a danger.
In 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith met in Beijing. In order to enrich relations between the two countries, to prepare a 5-year action plan to contribute to world peace and development, as well as to deepen mutual political trust, Xi stated that the development of the economic corridor between the two countries by making use of the China-Laos Railway will set an example for the Belt and Road Initiative.[iii] Now it seems that the railway, which is seen as an opportunity to accelerate trade in 2023, has also played an important role in China’s military strategy in the region.
Yang Mu, Director of Yunnan Commerce Department in China, announced on 12 July 2024 that the service network of the China-Laos Railway has been expanded to 12 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Yang added that the relevant freight categories have increased from 500 to 3,000.[iv] In addition, a number of Chinese state-owned companies are accelerating their investments in energy infrastructure in Laos, including hydroelectric power plants and power transmission lines, continuing to increase their influence in the country, which aims to become the “heart of Southeast Asia”.[v]
In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Laos, emphasised the importance of Laos in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative as follows: ‘The Laos-China railway and motorways continue to transform Laos’ environment and expand cooperation in power grids and finance. “Laos continues to deepen its comprehensive strategic co-operation with China and is always at the forefront of high-quality Belt and Road construction. China and Laos are not only partners of comprehensive strategic co-operation with high mutual trust, assistance and benefits, but also an unbreakable community of common destiny.”[vi]
As a result, within the scope of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Laos-China Railway both contributes to the economic development of Laos and provides a suitable environment for trade, investment and military cooperation that connects the region. Laos is a landlocked country with China to the north, Cambodia to the south, Vietnam to the east and Thailand to the west. However, it is of great importance in terms of railway. Because it has the potential to play an effective role in establishing links not only with China but also with many other Southeast Asian countries.
[i] “Laos and China Use BRI-Funded Railway to Bring Their Armies Together”, The Diplomat, https://thediplomat.com/2024/07/laos-and-china-use-bri-funded-railway-to-bring-their-armies-together/, (Date of Access: 21.07.2024).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] “Xi Meets Lao President”, Xinhua, https://english.news.cn/20231020/ab37aabeede74532b63b414e25a490bf/c.html (Date of Access: 21.07.2024).
[iv] “Thailand Link, Transforming ASEAN Travel, Logistics”, Yi Cai Global, https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-laos-railway-impact-on-asean-connectivity-grows-after-linking-thailand-laos-trains, (Date of Access: 21.07.2024).
[v] “China Goes Big on Laos Power Project, Boosting Southeast Asian Sway”, Nıkkei Asia, https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/China-goes-big-on-Laos-power-projects-boosting-Southeast-Asian-sway, (Date of Access: 21.07.2024).
[vi] “China-Laos BRI Cooperation a Successful Model for Participating Countries”, Global Times, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202310/1299858.shtml, (Date of Access: 21.07.2024).
