Chinese Billionaire Backs Nicaragua Canal Plan
Wang Jing, the enigmatic businessman behind Nicaragua's $50 billion Interoceanic Grand Canal, shrugs off scepticism about how a little-known entrepreneur can be driving a huge transcontinental project, insisting he's not an agent of the Beijing government. "I know you don't believe me," said Wang, who reckons that he's forked-out about $100 million in canal preparation work, and is burning as much as $10 million a month on the project. Wang grabbed global headlines last June when he sealed a controversial no-bid 50-year renewable concession from Nicaragua's Sandinista government to develop the $50 billion canal to rival Panama's, and related facilities. Nicaragua preparation is on schedule, Wang said.
China's "Ordinary" Billionaire Behind Nicaragua Canal Plan
Wang Jing, the enigmatic businessman behind Nicaragua's $50 billion Interoceanic Grand Canal, shrugs off scepticism about how a little-known entrepreneur can be driving a huge transcontinental project, insisting he's not an agent of the Beijing government. "I know you don't believe me," said Wang, who reckons that he's forked-out about $100 million in canal preparation work, and is burning as much as $10 million a month on the project. "You believe there are people from the Chinese government in the background providing support. High-ranking Chinese officials including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and former leaders Jiang Zemin and Wen Jiabao have all visited the state-connected wireless communication technologies company Wang took control of four years ago.
U.S.-Australian Defence Chiefs Strategic Dialogue
The Australian Chief of Defense Force, General David Hurley, and the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, joined senior Australian and U.S. military leaders for the first U.S.-Australian Defense Chiefs’ Strategic Dialogue (DCSD) discussions at the National Defense University in Washington D.C. The inaugural DCSD including the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs; the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison; the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown and the U.S. Service Chiefs provided a unique opportunity to discuss in depth a range of military matters. The discussion followed the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations in Washington D.C., on 20 November.
