China’s largesse in funding regional infrastructure has prompted claims Beijing is seeking leverage over poorer, heavily indebted nations.
Yet Laos’ increasing reliance on its large-pocketed neighbour has faced relatively little scrutiny, in part because it is obscured by Vientiane’s ties with Hanoil.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
New lung of Bangkok expected to fully ready in Feb 2022
According to WHO, at least 9 square metres (m2) of green space per individual should be provided in urban areas. Bangkok has managed a marginal increase in green area — from 6.43 m2 of green space per person in 2017 to 6.7 m2 in 2018.
Mekong Delta takes measures against saltwater intrusion
In recent years, the delta, the country’s largest rice, fruit and seafood producer, has faced severe saltwater intrusion from the sea.
New snake species and genus discovered in Myanmar
“The species must have a very small distribution, otherwise it would have certainly been discovered earlier. Their ecology and population dynamics is basically unknown.”
Japan, WFP helps recover Laos’ communities from floods
The floods in October 2020 have wiped out rice yields, adding to pre-existing challenges for families in the area who are regularly facing rice shortages of up to three months each year.
Mekong levels still falling in Thailand after China dam shut-off
The level of the Mekong in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen district has fallen from 2.5 metres to 1.84 metres over the past week (February 10-17).
Fuel U-turn unfortunate
Launched over a decade ago, E20 — which uses ethanol from sugarcane and cassava — was at one point seen as the energy source of the future, especially when oil prices neared US$100 (3,000 baht) a barrel.
Meet the Latest ‘Super Plant’ to Fight Air Pollution
Franchet’s cotoneaster, is a shrub with hairy leaves that sports white or pink berries in spring and summer and black, purple or red berries in fall and winter. It is originally from China, Thailand and Myanmar.
HCM City’s major environment and sanitation project face slow progress
A project to improve the environment and sanitation in HCM City’s District 2 worth more than VNĐ11.13 trillion (US$495 million) is lagging well behind schedule, requiring authorities’ interventions to speed up.