BLOG
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 »Why Nile Renaissance Dam Talks Are On Hold For Now
October 11th, 2020
Via Al-Monitor, commentary on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan whcih have been in a state of calm since the last session that was held under the auspices of the African Union and completely failed to reach a binding agreement between all parties: The negotiation session held Aug. 28 between […]
Read more »Water War: America Is Losing Credibility In The Egypt-Ethiopia Dam Dispute
October 8th, 2020
Via National Interest, commentary on how – by not remaining impartial on the issue – the United States has likely jeopardized its chance to be a credible GERD conflict mediator: In early September, the United States decided to suspend up to $130 million in aid to Ethiopia over a “lack of progress” in negotiations with Egypt and Sudan on […]
Read more »US Launches Mekong Partnership as Chinese Debt Trap Closes on Laos
September 16th, 2020
Via Future Directions International, a report on a different type of water politics, one which pertains to geopolitical spread of influence: The United States announced a new Mekong-US Partnership at a virtual summit hosted by Vietnam on 11 September. An initial US$153 million ($210 million) will be made available to Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos to […]
Read more »How To Share A River
September 10th, 2020
Via Project Syndicate, an interesting look at how a similar dispute in South America may offer valuable lessons on Ethiopia and Egypt’s current inability to reach an agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, raising fears that the entire region may be plunged into conflict: In 2011, Ethiopia launched construction on the […]
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