Phluk, Cambodia

THE thump of jackhammers and the whine of drills pierce the air, workmen in orange safety hats beaver away, and a massive concrete wall rises slowly above the river.

Here, in lush northeastern Cambodia, the US$800 million Lower Sesan 2 Dam stands as a potent symbol of China's growing reach, and Beijing's ambitious plans to expand its influence throughout Asia by building desperately needed infrastructure.