Cambodia has officially begun construction on the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal, a China-backed project aimed at linking the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand. Prime Minister Hun Manet hailed the project as historic and crucial for reducing reliance on Vietnamese ports for shipping goods. The 180-kilometer canal is expected to create jobs and lower shipping costs, but concerns persist regarding its environmental impact on the Mekong River and potential diplomatic tensions with Vietnam. Analysts suggest that the project may also be a strategic move to bolster support for the new prime minister, who recently succeeded his father, Hun Sen. While Cambodia insists the canal will only affect a Mekong tributary, Vietnam has expressed concerns about its implications for the Mekong Delta's agriculture. The canal is scheduled for completion in 2028, but its feasibility and environmental consequences remain subjects of debate.