Water disputes in the Mekong basin

The Mekong is south-east Asia's longest river (around 4 900km). From its source in Tibet, it flows southwards through the Chinese province of Yunnan before passing through five south-east Asian countries (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam). Nearly half of the river is in China, where it is known as the Lancang.

For the 70 million people who live in the Mekong basin, the river is a vital source of food and water, as well as an important transport route. Increasingly, it is being used to generate hydroelectricity. Human activity threatens the river's fauna and flora, and competition for natural resources is intensifying.

Author: Martin Russell

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Briefing, October 2015: Water disputes in Central Asia: Rising tension threatens regional stability http://www.europeansources.info/record/water-disputes-in-central-asia-rising-tension-threatens-regional-stability/

Mekong Eye, 08.06.16: The water conflict on the Mekong https://www.mekongeye.com/2016/06/08/the-water-conflict-on-the-mekong/

South China Morning Post, 14.01.18: [Opinion]: ‘Proactive diplomacy’ in Mekong River dispute only way to resolve brewing conflict http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2128079/proactive-diplomacy-mekong-river-dispute-only-way

University of Nottingham: Institute of Asia and Pacific Studies: IAPS Dialogue, 24.08.17: Water conflicts and development in the Mekong: What role for ASEAN? https://iapsdialogue.org/2017/08/24/water-conflicts-and-development-in-the-mekong-what-role-for-asean/

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