Chinese ECA mired in Filipino corruption enquiries

(ECA Watch, Paris, 30 March 2008) Last September we reported on a Filipino Senate inquiry into alleged kickbacks in a now cancelled US$394 million telecommunications contract awarded to China's ZTE with Chexim backing over a US ExIm backed US$135 million bid from ARESCOM. News reports now indicate that a US$503 million rail project funded by Chexim has been approved by the Filipino government with no bids and no provision to relocate some 40,000 families settled near the tracks. Catholic Bishops and teachers have called for further enquiries into wide-spread Filipino corruption.