Mekong River Policy

1. Mekong River Policy China’s Perspective “Dam it now.”

2. Agenda • Overview/Background • Review of Policy Options • Most Likely Course of Action • Q&A

3. Map China Dams -China 4/7 -Others – 12 130 Hydro projects planned for Mekong and tributaries. Burma Vietnam Laos Thailand Cambodia

4. Overview/Background • 6 countries shared resource (China, Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Burma, Thailand). • Each country dependent upon river for economic stability, food security, and socioeconomic stability. • Each country has a separate development plan for river; no overall plan to share resources. • No treaties exist; Mekong River Commission established w/ 4 countries (China/Burma excluded).

5. China’s Policy Options • Option 1: Maintain status quo. • Option 2: Negotiate water treaty/Join Mekong River Commission.

6. Analysis of Policy Option 1“Maintain Status Quo” • Pros: • Supports internal energy needs; maintains momentum to construct 3 new dams on river. • No external influences/factors needed to achieve internal energy security. • Little impact to Chinese population to develop river. • Cons: • Places lower Mekong countries way of life at risk (food/health). • Potential for regional instability; environmental impact to fish migration, silt and erosion. • Potential for negative political relations with region/global.

7. Analysis of Policy Option 2“Negotiate water treaty/Join Mekong River Commission. ” • Pros: • Potential for long-term positive relationships with regional countries. • Establish leadership role in region. • Improve world-view, doing something good for environment/region. • Cons: • Places external influence on internal energy policy/demands. • Halt or delay existing plans for development. • Establish precedent on external vs. internal goals.

8. Most Likely Course of Action • “Maintain Status Quo”

9. Questions?