Tensions Rise Again Over Mekong River... US Launches Mekong River Monitoring Site

Providing Information on Water Levels of 11 Chinese Construction Dams and Surrounding Dams

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Amid conflicts between China and Southeast Asian countries over the construction of dams on the Mekong River, the US-supported Mekong Dam Monitor observation site will officially begin operations on the 15th of this month. This separate site is being launched as a response to China's failure to properly provide Mekong River water resource information, with the US pledging to disclose information transparently.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 15th, the Mekong Dam Monitor will provide weekly water level information using remote sensing technology and satellite imagery for 11 dams built by China, 13 dams constructed along the main stream of the Mekong River, and 15 dams built on tributaries. It will also disclose other Mekong-related indicators such as the volume of water released from the 11 Chinese dams, water temperature, snow accumulation, and precipitation. Furthermore, an advisory body consisting of hydrologists and experts from related fields will participate to teach the relevant countries how to utilize this information.

This site is jointly operated by the Southeast Asia program of the US Washington-based think tank Stimson Center and the US water research and consulting firm Eyes on Earth. Through the site, they state that "through evidence-based, transparent, and continuous observation, we will counter inaccurate announcements regarding water flow, reservoir levels, and dam operations in the Mekong River basin." Earlier, Eyes on Earth pointed out in an April report that China stored a massive amount of water in the upper Mekong, worsening drought conditions in downstream Southeast Asian countries. According to the report, the 11 Chinese dams in the upper Mekong store 47 billion cubic meters of water.

In response, China recently launched an internet site to share Mekong River water resource information. However, the Stimson Center told SCMP that "China's site only discloses daily information about water levels below the dams," adding, "River water levels and dam operation data are completely different indicators, and China is not disclosing the latter."

SCMP predicted that "amid worsening US-China relations, the Mekong Dam Monitor will test China's patience." The Mekong River is a major river stretching 4,800 km, originating from Tibet in China, passing through Yunnan Province, and flowing through five Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia). In China, it is called the Lancang River.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.