A new approach to managing the Mekong River, treating it as a unified system rather than a collection of national interests, could foster regional cooperation, sustainability, and shared economic benefits for ASEAN member states, according to recent analysis.
The Mekong as a Strategic Asset
Southeast Asia’s largest river, originating on the Tibetan Plateau and flowing for 4,800 kilometers through six countries, is vital to the economies and cultures of the region. Thailand and Vietnam rely on the Mekong for rice production, while Laos generates hydroelectric power – earning it the moniker “the battery of ASEAN.” Cambodia benefits from the river’s rich inland fisheries, and the Mekong serves as a cultural link between cities like Xishuangbanna in China and Chiang Rai in Thailand, extending to Luang Prabang in Laos, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and Can Tho in Vietnam. Millions of tourists visit the Mekong annually, and its rice sustains populations beyond the immediate riparian nations, with electricity now flowing to Malaysia and Singapore.
Pressures on the Mekong River
Despite these benefits, the Mekong faces increasing pressures from rapid development and climate change. Hydropower and infrastructure projects are altering river flows, sediment transport, and fish migration patterns. Intensifying droughts and floods are impacting energy production, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. Multiple cooperative frameworks – including the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the Lancang Mekong Cooperation (LMC), and the Mekong-US Partnership – exist, but can sometimes lead to fragmented governance.
The Need for a New Approach
Current approaches focusing on single issues, sectors, or bilateral agreements yield limited results. A strategic vision is needed to unlock the Mekong’s full potential, balancing development needs with environmental sustainability and regional cooperation. Inspired by the 1970s Indicative Basin Plan, a new deal could envision the Mekong as a single, interconnected system, rather than a series of separate national projects.
Concrete Strategies for Cooperation
Coordinated operation of dams along the Lancang-Mekong River is crucial. Current practices of releasing and withholding water based on energy demands exacerbate both floods and droughts. A rules-based coordination regime, supported by data and modeling, could increase energy output, mitigate floods and droughts, and support irrigation. Such coordination could also help maintain the natural reverse flow of the Tonle Sap, vital for fisheries and freshwater supply in Vietnam’s delta.
New major projects should be joint endeavors between two or more governments, similar to the Itaipu dam between Brazil and Paraguay. Laos and Thailand could develop shared ownership of mainstream projects, with cost-sharing and benefits allocated to local communities. Projects should adhere to MRC guidelines and undergo independent review.
Increased investment in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power – exemplified by projects in Laos – should be prioritized over further dam construction. Expanding the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and treating Mekong-generated electricity as a shared regional resource, with Thailand and Malaysia playing a key role, would further benefit the region.
Developing the Mekong as a continuous waterway, from China to Cambodia and Vietnam, could offer economic and environmental benefits similar to those seen on Europe’s Rhine and Danube rivers, including reduced carbon emissions and pollution. This could enhance the viability of Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal, provided it is developed cooperatively.
A comprehensive approach will also enable the conservation of the Mekong’s ecosystems and biodiversity, supporting tourism and sustainable finance through nature-based carbon credits.
Realizing this vision requires bold leadership and coordinated action from the MRC, LMC Water Centre, Mekong Institute, and ASEAN, with financial and negotiation support from development partners and multilateral banks. The Mekong, rather than dividing Southeast Asia, has the potential to unite the region and its partners in a new era of shared prosperity.
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