FT: Thai officials condemn planned Chinese dams

Thai officials condemn planned Chinese dams
By Simon Roughneen in Bangkok
Source: Financial Times (UK). July 1 2010
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2dd0b486-850b-11df-adfa-00144feabdc0.html

Thai officials have spoken out against the Chinese government�s plan
to build 12 hydropower dams on the Mekong river, on the grounds that
the development will cause further environmental damage to the
waterway.

At the Mekong River Commission gathering on Thursday in Ho Chi Minh
City, Prasarn Maruekpithak, Thai representative, said, �China�s four
dams on the upper part of the Mekong River have already destroyed the
river�s ecosystem. Now this giant nation plans to build 12 dams more
on the lower part.�

Drought-like conditions have contributed to low water levels on the
Mekong, an agricultural and economic lifeline for MRC members
Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Thai groups have blamed dam
construction by China, which acts an observer to the MRC, for the low
water levels, and have put pressure on Bangkok to take a firm stance
on the issue.

China recently brought lawmakers from the four MRC countries to Yunnan
province, in a rare public diplomacy initiative designed to soothe
concerns about Chinese activity on the river.

The dispute comes amid growing economic links between China and the
rest of southeast Asia. Trade between China and members of the
Association of South East Asian Nations now tops $100bn and is
expected to grow after a free trade agreement between Beijing and
Asean was made in January.

Thailand believes Vietnam shares its views on the proposed dam
construction, adding to tensions between China and its smaller
southern neighbours.

Beijing has unresolved disputes with a number of south-east Asian
countries � notably Vietnam and the Philippines � over the Spratly and
Paracel islands and over control of the South China Sea.

In July 2009 the US signed a Treaty of Amity and Co-operation with
Asean, suggesting that Washington wants closer links with the region.
In recent months China and the US have sparred over the value of the
renminbi and over Beijing�s claims to the South China Sea.
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