The Impact of the Laos-China Railway Project on Laotian Human Security in 2021-2023
Keywords:
Human Security, Laos-China, Railway Project, Laotian Society
Abstract
In 2017 until 2020, the economic security of the Laotian society is experiencing problems where the unemployment rate is above 2%. This high unemployment rate affects the slow economic growth of Laos. In December 2021, Laos-China railway project is finally completed after 5 years of construction. In this paper, the author describes the positive and negative impacts caused by this railway project on the human security of Laotian society. In addition, this research also aims to analyze Laos government policies in preventing the negative impacts caused by this project on its human security using descriptive-qualitative research methods. The research found that the positive impacts of Laos' economic policy to cooperate in the railway project with China on its human security such as providing more jobs for Laotian society, increasing state revenue, improving the living standards of Laotian society. However, this project also has a negative impact on the environmental security of Laotian society. The negative impact can be prevented by the Lao government's efforts such as cooperating with China as a cooperation partner. Laos' economic policy in cooperation with China through the railway project greatly affects human security, especially in economic security. Laos succeed to reduce unemployment rate with the Laos-China railway project.
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Brad Guo, Yiran Tan, Stephen Nygaard, Cesar Carrillo, Kham Od Nouansavanh, Kitar Souksamone, & Robert J Casson. (2022). Prevalence and risk factors for cataracts in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic: The Vientiane Eye Study. Indian Journal of Opthalmology, 70(5).
Brendan Howe. (2023). The nature of Lao security challenges. Asian Affairs: An American Review, 50(4), 219–243.
Chanthaphaphone Mixayboua. (2021, November 17). China-Laos Railway, a green railway. National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC),People´s Republic of China. https://en.ndrc.gov.cn/news/mediarusources/202111/t20211117_1304258.html
China Population. (2023). CEIC. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/china/population
Lao News Agency. (2023, August 18). Chinese Medics to Provide Free Cataract Surgery in Vientiane. Lao News Agency. https://kpl.gov.la/en/detail.aspx?id=75003
China Daily. (2022). Cooperation of Laos and China benefits both. https://regional.chinadaily.com.cn/kunming/2022-07/12/c_788076_2.htm
IFAD. (n.d.). Country Facts. IFAD. Retrieved September 30, 2024, from https://www.ifad.org/en/w/countries/laos#:~:text=Agriculture%20and%20natural%20resources%20accounted%20for%2024.8%20per,are%20subsistence%20farmers%20with%20annual%20incomes%20below%20US%24300.
Dariskiyah, E., Prasodjo, H., & Pradana, H. A. (2022). Laos-China Cooperation in the Construction of High Speed Railway: A Perspective of Foreign Policy. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik, 12(2), 153–173. https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/jispo/index
David Hutt. (2024, July 7). Laos can feed itself, but its food security is complicated. Radio Free Asia. https://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/laos-food-security-07062024120007.html
Radio Free Asia. (2023, February 23). Fueled by the drug trade, crime is on the rise in Laos. Radio Free Asia. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/laoscrimes2022-02232023103625.html
CGTN. (2023, December 3). Graphics: China-Laos railway illustrated. CGTN. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-03/Graphics-China-Laos-railway-illustrated-15FkdlYvv8I/index.html
Hans Tse. (2024, February 9). Violent crime and fraud surge, as Hong Kong’s crime rate rises 29% in 2023. Hong Kong Free Press.
Hastin Umi Anisah. (n.d.). JENIS PENELITIAN DESKRIPTIF. In Dian Utami Sutiksno, Ratnadewi, & Ismi Aziz (Eds.), METODE PENELITIAN KUALITATIF (p. 29). Zahir Publishing. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from https://repo-dosen.ulm.ac.id/bitstream/handle/123456789/33565/Metode%20Penelitian%20Kualitatif.pdf?sequence=1
Huaxia. (2021, December 3). World Insights: China-Laos Railway to turn Laos from landlocked country into land-linked hub. XinhuaNet. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-12/03/c_1310350187.htm
UNDP. (1994). Human development report 1994. Oxford University Press.
Jones, J. F. (2004). Human Security and Social Development. Denver Journal of International Law & Policy, 33(1). https://digitalcommons.du.edu/djilp/vol33/
Krish Rugchatjaroen, & Simonekeo Senesathith. (2017). The Impact of Tourism Policies Toward The Tourists Arrival in ASEAN: A Case Study Of Laos PDR. ASEAN Journal of Management & Innovation, 2, 73. http://ajmi.stamford.edu.
Kukaj, D. (2018). Impact of Unemployment on Economic Growth: Evidence from Western Balkans. European Journal of Marketing and Economics, 1(1).
World Bank. (2021). Lao PDR Signs Agreement to Protect Forests and Reduce Carbon Emissions.
Laos-China railway showcases a decade of BRI’s achievements”. (2024). https://kpl.gov.la/En/detail.aspx?id=79935
Laotian Times. (2021, September 1). Laos-China Railway to be Green, Low-Carbon Railway. The Laotian Times. https://laotiantimes.com/2021/09/01/laos-china-railway-to-be-green-low-carbon-railway/#:~:text=Laos-China%20Railway%20to%20be%20Green%2C%20Low-Carbon%20Railway%20By,railway%20will%20be%20a%20green%2C%20low-carbon%20electrified%20railway.
Laotian Times. (2022, February 18). Police and Military to Jointly Patrol Laos-China Railway. LaotianTimes.
Liu Xiaoqi. (2021, December). China-Laos Railway: A railway of friendship, cooperation and prosperity. CGTN. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-03/China-Laos-Railway-A-railway-of-friendship-cooperation-prosperity-15ArmcIAXAY/index.html
Muhammad Ramdhan. (2021). Metode Penelitian (Aidil Amin Effendy, Ed.). Cipta Media Nusantara. https://books.google.co.id/books?hl=id&lr=&id=Ntw_EAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=tipe+penelitian+deskriptif+&ots=f3nK8JPy9v&sig=ci51cUFKugKhDNXOwodyh27TjHc&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
NWE. (n.d.). Laotian Civil War. In New World Encyclopedia.
Ohashi, H. (2018). The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the context of China’s opening-up policy. Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies, 7(2), 85–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/24761028.2018.1564615
Review of Maritime Transport 2021. (2022). UN Trade & Development (UNCTAD). https://unctad.org/publication/review-maritime-transport-2021#:~:text=Maritime%20transport%20is%20the%20backbone%20of%20international%20trade,percentage%20is%20even%20higher%20for%20most%20developing%20countries.
Suhardiman, D., DiCarlo, J., Keovilignavong, O., Rigg, J., & Nicol, A. (2021). (Re)constructing state power and livelihoods through the Laos-China Railway project. Geoforum, 124, 79–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.06.003
HKUST. (2020). The China-Laos railway: a way out of poverty or a white elephant in waiting? In The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. https://globalchinacenter.hkust.edu.hk/media_reports/china-laos-railway-way-out-poverty-or-white-elephant-waiting
The Commission on Human Security. (2003).
Tuti Khairani Harahap. (2022). Pengertian dan Konsep Dasar Penelitian Kualitatif. In Muhammad Hasan (Ed.), Metode Penelitian Kualitatif (p. 28). Tahta Media.
Victor I. Sorokin, Andrey A. Stanin, Magomedrasul M. Gadzhiev, & Lyubov K. Shamina. (2023). REGION ECONOMIC SECURITY: REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE RISK SPECIFICS. EKONOMIKA I UPRAVLENIE: PROBLEMY, RESHENIYA. https://doi.org/10.36871/ek.up.p.r.2023.10.05.012
World Bank. (2020, June 2). Transforming Lao PDR from a Land-locked to a Land-linked Economy. World Bank Group.
World Bank. (2024, April). Overview. World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lao/overview#:~:text=Economic%20instability%20and%20challenges%20in%20social%20services%20mean,situation%20and%20support%20a%20more%20inclusive%20growth%20pattern.
NDRC. (2021, December 6). World Insights: China-Laos Railway to turn Laos from landlocked country into land-linked hub. National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC),People´s Republic of China. https://en.ndrc.gov.cn/news/mediarusources/202112/t20211206_1306997.html
Yang Yongquan. (2023). China-Laos Railway, flagship Belt and Road project for regional connectivity, common development. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202312/05/WS656e5646a31090682a5f162c.html
Zuzana Košková. (2023). Belt and Road Initiative in Laos: A Success Story? https://europeanvalues.cz/en/belt-and-road-initiative-in-laos-a-success-story/
Published
2024-12-07
How to Cite
Denata, H. E. (2024). The Impact of the Laos-China Railway Project on Laotian Human Security in 2021-2023. Proceedings of Sunan Ampel International Conference of Political and Social Sciences, 2, 30-41. https://doi.org/10.15642/saicopss.2024.2.30-41
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Articles
Copyright (c) 2024 Hesti Eka Denata
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