This mini-series will cover China’s complicated relationship with water. There are both major scarcities and over-abundances across the nations. The way it manages this is an insight into how the nation functions, and how its government is dealing with one of the most pressing issues of our time; climate change

As China’s population has risen considerably, so too has its energy consumption increased. China has increased its energy consumption rapidly since 2000, growing nearly fourfold. This has required it to find new sources, especially domestically to ensure it doesn’t become dependent on foreign exports. In addition, China has been attempting to lessen its reliance on carbon-emitting sources such as coal and oil in its attempt to reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. This has led to a boom in hydroelectric power, much of which is concentrated in Tibet, where many of Asia’s great rivers (Such as the Indus, Brahmaputra, and Yangtze)  have their sources. One of these rivers impacted by the Chinese Dam building is the Mekong, called the Lancang in China, which has its upper basin. The Mekong is one of Asia’s most crucial rivers, the third longest in Asia and the twelfth in the world. It is home to 6-18% of the world's freshwater fish catch yield, beginning in China’s Tibet region and going through the Southeast Asian countries of Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and finally into Vietnam where it reaches the sea. It supports millions through its vibrant fishing and agriculture industry that surrounds its bank and provides sustenance for those same communities and many further afield. This livelihood is however now under threat.

As of January 2023, China has built 11 dams on the Lancang and plans to build even more. The upper part of the river in China is one of the most efficient bodies of water in the world to build Hydroelectric dams on due to its steep incline and water volume when flowing down from the mountainous source. Despite not being the only dams on the river (there are several in the lower Mekong countries) if we measure the amount of water held back by only the two biggest of China’s Dams it is the same amount as Chesapeake bay. China’s Dams thus have a huge impact on how the river functions and flows further downstream, especially as only 2 dams in the lower river are on the actual course of the main river (rather, they’re built on the Mekong’s tributaries) whereas all 11 built by China are on the main course of the Mekong.  It is not only the water volume being held back which is impacting the river levels and flow, but also the sediment. Rich sediment from Tibet is being held back, meaning it isn’t reaching countries in the Lower Mekong which rely on the rich soil for a plentiful harvest each year - making agriculture a lot less productive. The reduced water flow has impacted fish stocks by reducing them up to 35-40% in 2020 compared to historic levels. Particularly in the delta region in Vietnam and parts of Cambodia where the reduced flow has caused salt water from the South China Sea to flow into the river, harming fish and damaging agriculture on its banks. 

A recent insight

Owing to a 2020 Study by Eyes on Earth, we are now able to know to what extent China has been restricting flow to the lower Mekong. The study used a mix of water level data, statistical analysis, and satellite imaging to measure water depths, all to assess how much water was being held back by Chinese Dams, and in turn to what extent this was making an impact on the river downstream. One of its findings has worried commentators as it exemplifies China’s ever-tighter grip on its control of the water flowing down the Mekong. In 2019, the Chinese part of the Mekong received a higher than average precipitation and snowmelt, however, the Chinese Dams held back a record-breaking amount of water, leading to a water drought in lower Mekong countries during the wet season (around June-October.) The data also suggested that if such a huge volume of water wasn’t held back then water levels in much of the lower Mekong would have been above average rather than much below average. These revealing statistics are one of the first times the impact of Chinese Dam construction and control of water flow has been able to be seen in near real-time.

Analysis

The lower Mekong countries of  Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have not remained idle in their fight for the preservation of the river. In 1995 they formed the Mekong River Commission, to further crystallise their cooperation in managing the river. The organisation today plays a crucial role in monitoring, researching and lobbying on behalf of the needs of the river and the communities who rely on it. Despite repeated attempts, China has never joined the organisation. Chinese Dam construction is of course not the only reason why the Mekong is under threat, issues such as climate change and pollution are also resulting in harm, however, the building of dams is having the biggest impact currently. With this in mind, the Mekong River Commission’s real impact cannot overcome China’s lack of membership. The Mekong River Commission has, however, attempted to help manage how the lower Mekong countries manage the river by requiring thorough environmental studies before any dams are built on the river and its tributaries. Laos has previously ignored this requirement and general opposition from the Commission in building dams. Another country, Cambodia recently announced that it would pause all hydroelectric dam construction until 2030. 
The opposing outcomes of two of the Commission's countries regarding dam construction in the lower Mekong countries remind us that these are all low and lower-middle-income developing countries whose populations are growing and thus are all increasing in energy nations, whose energy consumption is growing as they develop. Thus, tackling China’s usage of water upstream becomes a more pressing imperative to not impact their energy generation and potential development. This has been ever more difficult as China looks to fund more infrastructure around the globe, especially closer to home in Southeast Asia. Its belt and road initiative has meant that it has funded much infrastructure in the region, including dams. The opposition to Chinese-built and Chinese dams on the upper Mekong is also unequally distributed on the ground level as there is a lack of civil societies in Cambodia and Laos, though many more in richer Thailand and Vietnam.

Another issue with engaging China in cooperating with lower Mekong countries is that China considers water management a national security issue, meaning that it often does not release enough data about the flow of the Mekong and is generally unwilling to cooperate. 

Conclusion 

China’s control of the Mekong through its dam-building over the recent decades has exacerbated a worrying situation in the lower Mekong, and attempts to cooperate have generally been futile. Recent data about China’s willingness to use these dams to control water flow has added to these concerns. With climate change continuing to make extreme weather more prevalent, it is crucial that all countries of the Mekong cooperate so as to mutually benefit from the river. Attention will be on China to see if they further pursue water security at the expense of surrounding nations or if they work together to maintain the crucial life-giving river.