Part 12/13:
Today, Indonesia finds itself caught between promises and reality. The rail project, once celebrated as a symbol of modern pride, has become a cautionary tale: a $7.3 billion test of how far nations are willing to go for rapid development at the expense of financial independence. The country is now trying to renegotiate, but the damage is done.
This situation demonstrates that what Beijing calls infrastructure diplomacy is often better described as infrastructure dependency. Each failed project leaves a trail of underperformance, unprofitable operations, and mounting debts—ultimately serving China’s strategic aims rather than local development.