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Damming the River by Feeling the Stones: China’s Mekong Hydropower Strategy
July 24th, 2025
Via New Security Beat, commentary on China’s Mekong River strategy: For decades, China has been the dominant force in hydropower development across the Mekong subregion, financing, and constructing massive dam projects that have transformed Southeast Asia’s economic and environmental landscape. Many analysts have framed this expansion as a meticulously orchestrated strategy to extend Beijing’s economic […]
Read more »A Dam(n) Shame: Specter of Dams and Diversion Looms over Southeast Asia’s Salween River
June 26th, 2025
Via Mongabay, a look at the specter of dams and diversion that looms over Southeast Asia’s Salween River: The Salween River, one of Asia’s last free-flowing rivers, supports Indigenous communities and biodiversity across China, Myanmar and Thailand, but faces threats from at least 20 proposed hydropower dams, mainly in Myanmar. Myanmar’s postcoup instability has stalled […]
Read more »Is Myanmar’s Junta About to Revive a Controversial Dam Project?
May 24th, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a report that Myanmar’s junta has formed a new committee for the Myitsone hydropower project, which was suspended in 2011: Myanmar’s military junta may be considering reviving the China-backed Myitsone Dam project, which was suspended more than a decade ago after protests over its possible impact on the environment, the Associated Press […]
Read more »‘Fuel for Water’: Heatwave Piles Misery On Myanmar’s Displaced Communities
May 3rd, 2024
Via Terra Daily, a report on the drought stress adding to the tragedy of Myanmar’s displaced citizens: Zay Yar Tun fills his truck with water for delivery to refugees in the parched hills of war-ravaged eastern Myanmar, where a heatwave is adding to the misery of life in displacement camps. Under a roof of plastic […]
Read more »Melting Himalayan Glaciers Could Leave 2B People Facing Water Scarcity
July 1st, 2023
Via The National News, an article on a recent study that found that Himalayan glaciers in the region disappeared 65 per cent faster in the decade from 2011 to 2020: Himalayan glaciers providing critical water to nearly two billion people are melting faster than ever before due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and […]
Read more »Thai Water Project Clears Major Hurdle After China Shows Interest
October 28th, 2021
Via Voice of America, an article on Thailand’s recent decision to move ahead on a controversial water diversion project: Thailand is moving forward on a controversial and long-pondered water diversion project after the plan drew interest from a major Chinese firm, a move that could give Beijing a new outpost for its sweeping Belt and […]
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