BLOG
The Thirsty Dragon: Mekong Levels Reportedly Plummet Due to Chinese Dam Activity
January 6th, 2021
Via The Diplomat, an article on Chinese dam withdrawals on the Mekong: Water levels on the Mekong River have fallen due to the filling of a Chinese dam on the upper reaches of the river in Yunnan province, according to locals and river monitors. The fall was reported on January 4, when locals in the […]
Read more »US Launches Mekong Dam Monitor to Provide a More Holistic View of the River
December 16th, 2020
Via Future Directions International, a report on the launch of the Mekong Dam Monitor which is likely to place further pressure on Beijing to provide timely, accurate and robust hydrological data on water levels and dam operations on the Mekong River: After China promised to provide uninterrupted access to hydrological data on the Mekong River, […]
Read more »Laos Presses Ahead with 4 More Mekong Dams Amid Drought
December 12th, 2020
Via VoA, a report on Laos’ decision to press ahead with 4 more Mekong dams amid a drought: Laos is pushing ahead with four dams across the mainstream of the Mekong River, despite an escalating chorus of objections and crippling debt to Chinese state banks which resulted in the loss of control over its electricity grid […]
Read more »Thai Official Warns Laos On Power Purchases From Controversial Mekong Dam
November 27th, 2020
Via The Diplomat, a report on Thai concerns about the Sanakham dam come amid growing recognition of the dire state of the Mekong: The Thai government has warned that it might refuse to buy electricity from a planned hydropower dam in Laos due to the negative environmental impacts, potentially throwing the controversial project into doubt. In comments to […]
Read more »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 »The Thirsty Dragon: Water is China’s Greatest Weapon and its Achilles Heel
October 19th, 2020
Via the Harvard Political Review, commentary on China’s water politics: When it comes to flood myths, China’s is not as well known as Noah’s Ark, but just as influential. Legend says that four millennia ago, the Yellow and Yangtze rivers frequently flooded, with devastating consequences for the ancient Chinese. However, salvation arrived when a distant relative […]
Read more »