Indonesia Shelves Concerns, Considers Granting China 90% Stake in Jakarta-Bandung HSR Project
The Indonesian government is considering offering Chinese contractors up to a 90% stake in the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, as it looks to kickstart the project. The railway had stalled in March 2017 due to difficulty related to the acquisition of land rights. The move comes despite controversy surrounding the project, which included the arrest of seven Chinese workers in April 2016 for illegal drilling and surveying activities near Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base. Chinese contractors were initially only to receive a 40% stake in the railway. The issue of control, ownership percentage and the strategic implications of associated land rights are among the issues that have afflicted other similar Chinese projects across the region.