The Atlantic Wire has posted an informative question and answer piece explaining the recent announcement that the governments of Colombia and China are in talks to construct a “dry canal” alternative to the 97-year-old Panama Canal. Excerpts below:

A “dry canal”…is that really just a railroad?

Yes. Specifically, a 136 mile railroad that would link the Atlantic coast city of Cartagena with the Pacific port of Buenaventura.

How do the Chinese benefit?

China wants coal [and] Colombia is the world’s fifth biggest producer … and it would stand as “a symbol of China’s economic incursions into what the US once considered its backyard.”

Read more questions and answers at the Atlantic Wire