China’s Dam Builders: their role in transboundary river management in Southeast Asia

Urban, Frauke; Siciliano, Giuseppina; Nordensvard, Johan

Abstract

This article investigates China’s role as the world’s largest builder of and investor in large dams, focussing on the Greater Mekong Sub-Region in South-East Asia. It addresses the role Chinese actors play in dam-building as well as the environmental, social, economic and political implications by drawing on case studies from Cambodia and Vietnam. The article finds that China’s dam-building is perceived very differently in different countries of South-East Asia. In Cambodia, the dams in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region are considered instruments of economic growth and development, whereas downstream in Vietnam the dams are seen as potentially undermining national growth, development and security.

Citation

Urban, F., Siciliano, G., & Nordensvard, J. (2018). China’s Dam Builders: their role in transboundary river management in Southeast Asia. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 34(5), 747-770. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1329138

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 4, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jun 13, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 2, 2017
• Journal: International Journal of Water Resources Development
• Print ISSN: 0790-0627
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-0648
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 747-770
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1329138