China Opens Pinglu Canal, Cutting Route to Gulf of Tonkin by 560 km

China has opened the Pinglu Canal, a major infrastructure project linking its southern river network to the Gulf of Tonkin, reducing the distance for goods from the interior to the sea by over 560 km. This strategic waterway enhances China's trade connectivity with Southeast Asia and could shift regional logistics patterns. The canal's operational capacity and impact on regional trade flows remain to be seen.