One Bridge,Two Towns and Three Countries: Anticipatory Geopolitics in the Greater Mekong Subregion |
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Authors: | Shaun Lin Carl Grundy-Warr |
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Affiliation: | 1. Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security , University of Wollongong , Australia ZS1957@uowmail.edu.au;3. Department of Geography , National University of Singapore , Singapore |
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Abstract: | The proposed bridge between Chiang Khong and Houay Xay will form the remaining crucial link of the Asian Highway 3, connecting Bangkok to Kunming, a project highly anticipated in the Greater Mekong Subregion's (GMS) development. With China funding half the cost of the bridge, it signifies a strong player in the economic borderland. The article seeks to uncover the locals' thoughts and feelings of the bridge to raise awareness of ‘voices’ from the Thai-Lao border in relation to the further destinations the bridge will serve. The local perceptions of the proposed bridge are used to provide a form of comprehension of anticipatory cross-border geopolitical relations between the Thai-Lao border and China. Drawing on the concepts of critical geopolitics, anti-geopolitics and geoeconomics, it concludes by underscoring the need to listen to local perceptions at the Thai-Lao border as they signal potential ill-feelings that could jeopardise future cross-border geopolitical ties and trade. |
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