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The Thirsty Dragon: China’s Water Grab?
August 23rd, 2010
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, an interesting look at China’s interest in the Mekong River and the conclusion that – if America wants to strengthen its presence in Asia – it should focus less on the South China Sea and more on the Mekong. As the article notes: “…In recent weeks, the United States has taken […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Water Shortages Impact Economic Growth
July 27th, 2010
Via Yale’s e360, a report on the challenges that China – with 20% of the world’s population but just 7% of its available freshwater – has as water shortages impact its economy and urbanization initiatives. As the article notes: “…On a recent visit to the Gobi desert, which stretches across China’s western Gansu province, I […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon’s Watergy Nexus Challenge
July 14th, 2010
Courtesy of The Green Leap Forward, a detailed examination of the complex interactions among the energy, water, and food systems in China, which are especially critical given the scarcities involved in all three systems. As the article notes, this watergy nexus presents a compelling challenge to China: “…China’s rapidly growing economy is very quickly testing […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Dammed If They Do; Damned If They Don’t
July 11th, 2010
Courtesy of The Economist, a look at the rising (water) tension between China and its neighbors over China’s planned hydroelectric projects. As the article notes: “IN YUNNAN in south-west China the biggest floods in a dozen years have ended a long, brutal drought. For months here in Xishuangbanna, a glassy Mekong had merely sauntered towards […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China’s ‘Long Haul” To Slake the North’s Thirst
June 13th, 2010
Courtesy of IEEE’s Spectrum magazine, a detailed look at China’s ambitious plans to address its water scarcity issues: “…In 1952, Mao Zedong visited the great rushing rivers of China’s south and suggested that the thirsty north “borrow” some. Thus was born the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Nearly 60 years later, construction is under way on […]
Read more »Water In South Asia – Affecting The Balance of Power
May 4th, 2010
Courtesy of Hydro-Logic, an excellent analysis of how transboundary water issues are one of the top three concerns affecting the balance of power in the region that is dominated by China, India, and Pakistan. As the article notes: “…water and energy are inextricably linked, in a ”nexus” which I shall address in a future post, […]
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