The Americas | Nicaragua’s canal

Digging for truth

Chinese construction is due to start—but of what?

ON DECEMBER 22nd an odd couple—Nicaragua’s left-wing government and a Chinese-born telecoms magnate—say they will begin the realisation of a dream that has captivated Nicaraguans for generations: the construction of an inter-oceanic canal to rival Panama’s. According to Manuel Coronel, an octogenarian who runs the canal authority, their intentions are now beyond dispute. “When the bride and groom set a date, you know it’s serious,” he says.

This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline "Digging for truth"

Christmas double issue

From the December 20th 2014 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from The Americas

Elon Musk is feuding with Brazil’s powerful Supreme Court

The court has become the de facto regulator of social media in the country

Haiti’s transitional government must take office amid gang warfare

Only after it is installed can an international security force be deployed to the country


Chinese green technologies are pouring into Latin America

That is prompting anxiety in the United States about security, coercion and competition