China’s influence is growing in Laos, but the country’s foreign relations present a more complex picture.
Category: Analysis
Beijing’s ambitions and tactics to control Southeast Asia
The CCP’s harnessing the Mekong faucet has gained itself political bargaining chips for restricting ASEAN states because the five downstream Mekong states account for half of ASEAN members.
One hundred years of devastation
For example, by building 11 giant dams on the Mekong, just before the river crosses into Southeast Asia, China has secured the ability to turn off the region’s water tap. But the CCP is failing to consider the high costs of its strategy, which extend far beyond political friction with neighbours.
Global community should beware of Beijing weaponizing water resources
Why are these five countries submissive to the CCP? Because they have been shortchanged.
Thailand’s never-ending story of pollution non-regulation
Spraying water and checking smoke-belching vehicles are nothing but piecemeal efforts. State agencies are using their own legal apparatus in a haphazard manner to no avail, which explains why polluters are let off the hook. Although several bills designed to end smog season and hold polluters accountable are soon to be debated, they face an uphill battle in parliament.
Rare Earths in Myanmar: Unobtanium?
Mining in Kachin State brings up a more fundamental question about the upstream rare earth pipeline. Does the road to a clean energy economy run through murky mines in northern Myanmar?
Cleaning up our act
Asean makes a new push to deal with its world-beating marine plastic waste problem. By Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata in Jakarta
‘Water grabbing’ on the Mekong
As dam-building projects continue to proliferate along Southeast Asia’s vital Mekong River, experts in a recent online discussion panel agreed that the area is fast becoming overloaded with them, dredging up far-reaching issues ranging from international friction and industry “water grabs” to widespread ecological disasters and the growing impacts of climate change.
Obstacles and opportunities in Vietnam-Australia ties
Similarly, Australia could prioritise its development assistance for the Mekong Delta, which is facing risks from China-backed hydroelectric dams as well as threats from climate change and environmental degradation.
New boss same as old boss in reshuffled Laos
Laos’ economic options, however, remain limited. Land-locked and with few trading links other than to China, Thailand and Vietnam, its economic future is restricted to debt-accruing infrastructure development and hydropower production, the key sources of its economic growth.