Mekong River Groups Urge China to Show Transparency After Dam Report

A general view of the future site of the Luang Prabang dam is seen on the Mekong River outskirt of Luang Prabang province, Laos, on Feb. 5, 2020. Panu Wongcha-um/Reuters

BANGKOK—Groups working to protect the Mekong River have called for greater transparency and cooperation from China after a report that Chinese dams held back water during a damaging drought in downstream countries last year.

China has disputed the findings of the U.S. government-funded study and said it will do its utmost to guarantee a reasonable discharge of water to the Mekong basin countries of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

The study, by research and consulting company Eyes on Earth Inc., said that according to satellite data 11 Chinese dams held back water at a time when China had higher-than-average levels—while levels downstream were at their lowest in over 50 years.

General view of Mekong river, Ban Namprai village, Nong Khai province, Thailand, on Oct. 8, 2019. Panu Wongcha-um/Reuters

The Mekong River Commission (MRC), an inter-governmental body that works with the governments of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam in managing the Lower Mekong basin, said the study did not prove that the withholding of water caused the drought.

But its secretariat said it sought more information from China as well as a more formal working relationship.

“China, as an MRC dialogue partner, has provided its water level and rainfall data during flood season, from only two of its stations on the upper Mekong,” it said in response to Reuters questions. “The MRC has attempted to acquire dry season data from China, but no agreement has yet been reached.”

General view of Mekong river, Ban Namprai village, Nong Khai province, Thailand, on Oct. 8, 2019. Panu Wongcha-um/Reuters

None of the governments in the downstream countries responded to a Reuters request for comment. Water flow on the Mekong is a sensitive topic in relations with China, the region’s dominant power.

In Thailand, the hashtag #StopMekongDam was trending on Twitter on April 15 as a result of the new report.

Activists said the study confirmed their suspicions.

“We cannot just sit around and wait for China to say when they are releasing the water from their dams; Mekong countries need to have a say on this too,” said Niwat Roykaew, an environmental activist in northern Thailand.

A fisherman pulls his net from the Mekong River in northern Thailand and bordering Laos, on May 29, 2013. Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

China has no formal water treaties with the lower Mekong countries and shares only limited information.

In Cambodia, Hok Menghoin of the NGO Forum on Cambodia said the report would at least help downstream governments to press their case in their discussions with China.

“China’s actions must go well beyond periodic releases of water,” said Pianporn Deetes, a Thai activist for the International Rivers pressure group.

“There needs to be long-term change in dam operations to prioritize the ecosystem services vital to the livelihoods of downstream communities.”

Washington, which has been challenging China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia, has said Beijing essentially controls the Mekong.

 By Panu Wongcha-um, Prak Chan, and James Pearson