Cambodia’s government has initiated a controversial canal project designed to connect the Mekong River to the sea. The construction of this $1.7 billion project began on Monday, and Phnom Penh hopes that the canal will bolster the country’s economy. However, there are significant concerns regarding the potential impact of the project on the region’s environment and international relations.
The Funan Techo Canal will extend from a location near the Mekong River, approximately an hour’s drive southeast of Phnom Penh, to the Gulf of Thailand. The canal is scheduled for completion in 2028. This project is a personal endeavor for former Prime Minister Hun Sen, and it is also viewed as a national initiative aimed at building support for his son and successor, Prime Minister Hun Manet, who assumed power after his father’s 38-year rule ended last year.
The government declared Monday—also Hun Sen’s birthday—an official holiday so that Cambodians could participate in “celebrating in a joyful, solemn, and proud manner.” During the project launch, Hun Manet described the 180-kilometer (approximately 112 miles) undertaking as “historic” and stated that it would provide the country with a “nose to breathe through.” “This project is not simply an infrastructure endeavor but a nationalistic aspiration,” Hun Manet added. “We must build this canal at all costs.”
Despite the optimistic outlook, the project is surrounded by uncertainty, particularly from neighboring Vietnam, which has expressed concerns about the consequences of the canal. Cambodia hopes that the new waterway will reduce its dependence on Vietnamese ports for exports.
Furthermore, there are apprehensions regarding China’s involvement, as Phnom Penh has suggested that China may partially finance the project. Concerns have escalated to the point where some fear that the canal could be used by Chinese warships. Cambodia, a close ally of China, conducted its largest military exercises with China ever in May. In December, two Chinese warships visited Cambodia’s Ream naval base, raising fears of increasing Chinese influence in the Gulf of Thailand. However, Cambodia has repeatedly denied that the base is being used by any foreign power.
The project’s impact on the environment also poses a significant concern. Conservationists have long warned that the Mekong River, which supports up to a quarter of the world’s freshwater fish catch and half of Vietnam’s rice production, is at risk due to infrastructure projects, pollution, sand mining, and climate change.