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China Opens Joint Aviation Center Near Vientiane
China and Laos have opened a joint training center and aviation academy at Ban Keun airfield, just 50 short km north of Vientiane. Satellite images show a 2,000-meter runway with space to extend it by at least another thousand meters, in addition to an apron fit for about two dozen planes. Chinese firms were able to get the first phase built in less than 11 months, and works are ongoing. Once upon a time, the airfield was known as Lima Site 44, where the CIA-owned Air America flew Hmong troops. Eight trainer jets believed to be Hongdu JL-8s are reportedly on site, but interestingly the Lao air force officially only owns four. Probably nothing.
Read more: AP (regional reaction), The Straits Times (China's footprint), ABC (no Chinese garrison), Military Watch Magazine (overseas base claim)
US Trade Panel Clears Way for Duties on Lao Solar
The US International Trade Commission has decided that solar cell imports from Laos, India and Indonesia have harmed American manufacturers. Their decision allows the Commerce Department to finalize antidumping and countervailing duties on the responsible parties. An industry alliance led by First Solar, Hanwha Qcells USA and Mission Solar Energy says that it expects the orders to be handed out on Nov. 2 and that the duties will close a route that Chinese-owned companies in Laos and Indonesia have been using (apparently with some success, until now) to sidestep previous trade allegations/ cases.
Read more: Utility Dive
Names Named in Luang Prabang Meth Jet Case
Philippine authorities have named 11 people of interest in the 3.5 billion peso, 521-kilogram meth shipment that Lao police caught at Luang Prabang airport. The claim is that former Bangsamoro parliament member Sultan Edrieza Rimbang financed the operation and that aviation security sergeant Aileen Mendoza was responsible for managing the Manila hangar where the jet was expected to be parked on arrival. Philippine reports say Rimbang is still in the country but the pilot who secured the jet has already departed. None of the 11 is yet subject to a Philippine arrest warrant and the only one in custody is Rimbang's brother-in-law, Fahad Dibarosan, who was arrested in Laos, inconveniently in possession of the drug-filled suitcases.
Read more: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Manila consignee), SunStar (pilot's role), Philstar (jet and seizure), Philstar (Sam Gor link)
PM Orders Fix for Vientiane Water Shortage
Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith is trying to get the Public Works and Transport Ministry to get moving on the capital's water shortage. Vientiane's utility is able to supply about 400,000 cubic meters daily, but demand is just over 500,000. More than a fifth of the capital's villages STILL don’t have tap water (mostly in Pakngum, Sangthong and Xaythany). A new plant in Banmai plant is due to open in April of next year and a Chinaimo plant extension is expected to add 40,000 cubic meters daily in 2028.
Read more: Laotian Times
Authorities Slap 153 For COVID Quarantine Fees
Authorities have disciplined 153 people and referred 21 more to court because of a COVID-era scheme that (allegedly) let some Chinese nationals skip quarantine fees even as they charged others amounts that were higher than the official rates. The losses are estimated at about $2.2 million. Those implicated include civil servants, police officers and even some local business operators. Authorities say they have recovered all the money owed in baht and dollars, but amounts skimmed in kip and Chinese yuan remain outstanding.
Read more: Laotian Times
Security Forum CICA Gives Full Membership
After about nine years as an observer, Laos has at long last become the 29th full member of CICA (Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia), an Asian security and cooperation forum. The upgrade will allow Vientiane a say in the group's decisions.
Read more: Laotian Times
Population at 7.24M, Growth Slowing
The first digital census run in Lao history has put the resident population at an estimated 7.24 million. Enumerators counted 6.74 million people directly, and a follow-up survey added about 497,000 who had (somehow?) been missed. Annual growth has slowed to 1.1 percent, and the birth rate has fallen to about 18 per 1,000 compared to 28 in 2015. The median age of Lao residents is a sprightly 27, and about two-thirds of residents make their homes in “rural areas.” Maybe surprisingly, some 301,500 residents still lack road access.
Read more: Laotian Times
Holiday Inn Resort Coming to Luang Prabang
IHG is planning to open a 101-room Holiday Inn Resort on Naluang Hill in 2027; the property will be its first in Luang Prabang. Naluang International Resort and Hotel will be running the deal and is pitching the property to business groups (500 sq m of meeting space on offer) in addition to tourists.
Read more: Hotelsmag
Neighbors Agree to Finish Border Markers Faster
Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to speed up work on the remaining markers along their shared borders under a military cooperation plan. Frontline units will be running more joint patrols and plan to share more intelligence on drug smuggling, human trafficking and illegal crossings. The three armed forces have also made plans to take turns hosting rescue exercises.
Read more: Laotian Times
Raids Net 23 Excavators at Illegal Gold Mines
Officers have seized 23 excavators, in addition to screens, generators, trucks and gold-filter carpets, in raids on 10 suspected illegal gold mines in Vientiane's Sangthong District. Investigators say they’re now trying to figure out who ran and financed the sites and whether local people helped. We suppose that phrasing indicates the mines were (allegedly) being run by foreigners, but no charges have been laid to date.
Read more: Laotian Times
That's all for this week, thanks for reading! Your voice matters to us. Feel we're missing something? Have additional sources to suggest? Don't hold back- hit reply and tell us what you think.
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