China Invests $10 Billion in Canal, but Experts Say It Is Redundant

An aerial view shows a container ship berthed at the container wharf of Qinzhou Port in Qinzhou in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Sept. 13, 2022. Zhang Ailin/Xinhua via AP

Pinglu Canal, the first canal built by the Chinese regime, is a 72.7 billion yuan ($10.18 billion) hydro project approved last August. China said it is the shortest, most economical, and most convenient land-sea passage for economic trade between Southwest China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Chinese Officials said the canal—linking the Xijiang River with ports in the Beibu Gulf—can improve the navigation conditions of the Xijiang River and greatly enhance the transport capacity for west China.