Avenida de Hudi-Laran is one of the busiest roads in Dili, the capital of East Timor .

On any given day, motorbikes, cramped minibuses and yellow taxis speed past restaurants, spas and furniture supply stores.

But instead of the usual Portuguese or Tetum – the country’s two official languages – many of the establishments boast Chinese names.

The expansion of Chinese-owned businesses has grown to such an extent that most people refer to Hudi-Laran, meaning “banana complex”, as “China-Laran” now.

It’s a sign of Beijing’s increasing investment in the small country, but its level of influence appears to have its limits.

At a time when more and more Asian countries are falling into debilitating debt traps that grant China sweeping leverage, East Timor is resisting – for now.

It is one

See Full Page