Laos May Bear Cost of Planned Chinese Railroad - NYTimes.com - 3 views
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China is not particularly interested in sharing much of the wealth the railroad would generate. Most of the benefits, critics say, would flow to China while most of the costs would be borne by the host nation. The price tag of the $7 billion, 260-mile rail project, which Laos will borrow from China, is nearly equal to the tiny $8 billion in annual economic activity in Laos
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Some Laotians, unhappy with the unmistakable Chinese presence, complain that their country is becoming little more than a province of China or, more slyly, a vassal state.
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An interesting piece that could be used (carefully) in discussions in either the daytime of evening development classes; particularly in regards to development stakeholders. There's also a brief mention of Ajarn Sombath.
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"people here recognise money, not people" an interesting quote from the article.