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The Thirsty Dragon: Amid US Criticism, China Offers Mekong Nations Access to Crucial River Data
October 23rd, 2020
Via The Diplomat, a report on China’s agreement to provide downstream nations access to crucial Mekong River data, a welcome development for downstream nations, but one that underlines China’s strategic hold over the crucial waterway: China has agreed to provide the Mekong River Commission (MRC) with year-round hydrological data, following through on a promise made by Chinese Premier […]
Read more »Thirst Stalking Towns In The Himalayas
March 7th, 2020
Via India Climate Dialogue, a look at how urban settlements in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region are facing acute water scarcity due to dying mountain springs and changes brought on by climate change: The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is the water tower for most of Asia, but many of its residents face increasing water […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China To Help Manage Mekong Amid Warnings of Dam Danger
February 22nd, 2020
Via Reuters, a report on China’s efforts to help its downstream neighbors manage drought via Mekong River releases: China on Thursday said it was helping its downstream neighbors cope with a prolonged drought by releasing more water from its dams on the Mekong River, adding it would consider sharing information on hydrology to provide further […]
Read more »Asia’s Great Rivers: Climate Crisis, Pollution Put Billions At Risk
January 11th, 2020
Via Terra Daily, a report on the potential risk facing Asia’s great rivers: The year is 2100. The glaciers of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region — the world’s “Third Pole” — are vanishing as the planet warms, the ice that once fed the great rivers of Asia is all but lost, and with it much of […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Myanmar’s Dam Dilemma with China
August 3rd, 2019
Via BBC, a report on the controversial Myitsone dam, at the source of the Irrawaddy river: In 2011, construction work on a massive dam project in Myanmar’s restive Kachin state was halted after large protests. China is now lobbying hard for the work to resume, but as BBC News Burmese’s Soe Soe Htoon found, local […]
Read more »The Parched Tiger: Why India Must Get Its Act Together On Water Diplomacy
June 22nd, 2019
Via Brahma Chellaney, interesting commentary on the need for India to activate more efforts around water diplomacy: Narendra Modi’s rise as the dominant force in Indian politics cannot obscure the daunting foreign-policy challenges he faces, including on transnational water issues. For example, communist-ruled Nepal’s tilt towards China is apparent not only from the mandatory Mandarin in many […]
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