PODCAST:Drum Tower
TITLE:Drum Tower picks: Life on China’s border with South-East Asia
DATE:2023-12-26 00:00:00
URL:
MODEL:gpt-4-gizmo
In this special episode of the "Drum Tower" podcast, host David Rennie shares a story from 2023 about the changing life along China's border with Southeast Asia, particularly in Rayleigh, a city on the frontier with Myanmar. The report, originally published in The Economist, explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed a once open border into a highly secure one.
Before the pandemic, the border was characterized by its openness and the mingling of people from both sides, often from the same ethnic groups, engaging in trade and crossing freely. However, during the pandemic, China erected extensive barriers along this 5,000-kilometer border, aiming to prevent the virus from entering the country. This construction, which included fences, walls, and barriers, has now become a permanent feature, seen as a way to stop not only the spread of disease but also smuggling and other illegal activities.
Historically, the border regions were places where locals expertly navigated unclear boundaries and state control. The region was known for its unruliness, with a history of drug trading, smuggling, and displacement due to political conflicts. This lack of strict control persisted even after the formal agreement on borders between China and Southeast Asian countries.
During the pandemic, local governments in these border areas prioritized cutting off any potential sources of infection. All foreigners and foreign goods became suspect, leading to the construction of what some call the "Southern Great Wall." This wall, equipped with advanced surveillance technology, has significantly reduced illegal activities, according to local authorities. However, this has come at a cost to the local population.
Rayleigh, for example, experienced one of the most severe lockdowns in China, leading to a dramatic population decline and economic hardship. The new barriers have disrupted traditional ways of life, with increased travel distances and costs for cross-border activities, leading to unemployment and higher prices for goods.
Despite some local approval of the reduced drug trafficking and illegal activities, many residents express a sense of loss for the days of easy international travel and cultural exchange. The new reality of a hardened, heavily surveilled border represents a significant shift in the region's dynamics, a change that, according to locals, is here to stay.
