China's new joint air training facility in Laos highlights Beijing's incremental expansion of its military access across Southeast Asia. The 2,000-meter runway could extend the operational reach of Chinese aircraft, although its current capabilities remain limited and its long-term purpose is uncertain. Unlike a conventional overseas base, the facility reflects a gradual approach to expanding China's regional security footprint.

The bigger story may be Beijing's deepening political and economic influence in Laos, where Chinese investment, debt exposure, and growing party-to-party ties strengthen bilateral relations. As Japan expands security cooperation across Southeast Asia and the United States maintains its regional military presence, China's evolving access arrangements could gradually reshape the regional balance of power.

Hunter Marston, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute and project lead for the Asia Power Index, joins Eric to talk about China's military ambitions in Laos, the strategic implications of its growing regional access, and the roles of economic leverage and Japan's expanding security partnerships.

Show Notes:

• Lowy Institute: What to make of China's new air facility in Laos by Hunter Marston

📌 Topics Covered in This Episode

• China's New Air Training Facility in Laos
• Beijing's Growing Political and Economic Influence in Laos
• China's Military Access and Southeast Asian Security
• Japan's Expanding Security Role in the Indo-Pacific

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The world's largest bank by assets is also a powerful instrument of Chinese statecraft. An investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, based on 4.8 million confidential records, reveals how Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) aligned lending decisions with Beijing's strategic priorities, sometimes overriding internal compliance concerns to secure natural resources, support Chinese companies, and strengthen political alliances.

The findings highlight the tensions between commercial banking, geopolitical influence, and financial oversight. From lending to Russian companies despite sanctions-related concerns to financing infrastructure and resource deals abroad, the records expose how strategic imperatives can shape banking decisions. Limited transparency, meanwhile, leaves borrowing countries and regulators with significant questions about accountability and risk.

Scilla Alecci, lead reporter and partnership coordinator for ICIJ's China Capital Investigation, joins Eric to talk about ICBC's overseas lending, Beijing's influence over bank decisions, and the implications for financial regulation, resource access, and borrowing countries.

Show Notes:

• International Consortium of Investigative Journalists - How the world's largest bank advances Beijing's political priorities and global ambitions by Scilla Alecci

📌 Topics Covered in This Episode

• How ICBC Advances Beijing's Global Strategic Interests
• China's State Banks and Geopolitical Power Projection
• Sanctions Compliance and High-Risk Overseas Lending Decisions
• Chinese Lending, Resource Access, and Political Alliances
• Zambia's Debt Repayments and China's Lending Practices
• Transparency, Financial Oversight, and Borrower Accountability

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India and China are cautiously rebuilding ties after years of confrontation, but normalization remains fragile. Recent high-level meetings have restored diplomatic momentum, yet unresolved territorial claims, persistent military deployments and deep strategic mistrust continue to constrain progress.

Beyond the border, the two Asian powers face competing regional ambitions, an increasingly complex relationship with Washington and a deeply imbalanced trade relationship. India's dependence on Chinese industrial components complicates efforts to reduce economic vulnerabilities, while China's close partnership with Pakistan and India's expanding security ties across Southeast Asia reinforce their strategic rivalry.

Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent at The Hindu, joins Eric to examine the trajectory of India-China relations, including border negotiations, the impact of U.S. policy under Donald Trump, and the challenges of balancing economic interdependence with strategic competition.

Show Notes:

• Substack: The India China Newsletter by Ananth Krishnan
• Ananth Krishnan's Book - India's China Challenge: A Journey through China's Rise
• The Hindu: Ananth Krishnan's Reporting for the Hindu

📌 Topics Covered in This Episode

• India-China Border Talks and Normalization
• Trump's Impact on India-China Relations
• China-Pakistan Ties and Regional Security Competition
• India-China Trade Imbalances and Supply Chain Dependence

Join the Discussion:

X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander I @ananthkrishnan

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