China looms large over South-east Asia’s Mekong states

Significance

The Mekong flows through China and the five mainland South-east Asian states -- Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Earlier this month, China belatedly informed the downstream Mekong countries of reduced water flow because of power-line maintenance at one of its dams on the river.

Impacts

• US partners India and Japan will look to strengthen economic ties with the South-east Asian Mekong states.
• Climate change and low rainfall will exacerbate droughts in mainland South-east Asia.
• The China-led Lancang-Mekong Cooperation initiative will dominate management of the Mekong, overshadowing the Mekong River Commission.