Chinese dams held back Mekong waters during drought, study finds

[KKr]

extended commentaries in the NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/world/asia/china-mekong-drought.html?referringSource=articleShare

""
But during last year’s wet season, the fortunes of the river’s two parts diverged in dramatic fashion. As China’s section of the Mekong welcomed an above average volume of water, downstream countries were stricken by a drought so crushing that parts of the river dried up entirely, leaving cracked riverbed exposed in a season when fishing should have been plentiful.
""

 

Edited April 14, 2020 by KKr

[teatree]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

Agreed its not like the US has no agenda. The time that i believed the US blindly is long gone. They lost loads of trust and now with the president they have its at an all time low.

 

Not that i trust China more but both sides got something to gain from this so i doubt that either rapport is without bias. 

Of course the US has an agenda to increase its power.  But would you rather live in a world dominated by the US or one dominated by a communist dictatorship?  

 

China poses a very real threat to everyone, and the world needs to wake up to it.

[rkidlad]

3 minutes ago, teatree said:

Of course the US has an agenda to increase its power.  But would you rather live in a world dominated by the US or one dominated by a communist dictatorship?  

 

China poses a very real threat to everyone, and the world needs to wake up to it.

Absolutely agree. It’s the lesser of two evils. As a huge advocate of free speech, as I think we should all be, it boggles the mind when people who live in societies with more freedoms and rights envy people living under repressive regimes. 

 

 

Edited April 14, 2020 by rkidlad

[robblok]

6 minutes ago, teatree said:

Of course the US has an agenda to increase its power.  But would you rather live in a world dominated by the US or one dominated by a communist dictatorship?  

 

China poses a very real threat to everyone, and the world needs to wake up to it.

Of course I rather live under the US.. although with Trump in power maybe not. However that does not mean I cannot question a report and see it as unbias when I think that it is. 

 

Are you of the opinion that the US can lie just to increase its power and weaken China. I mean they lied to us about chemical weapons and started a war. 

 

Just because they are the lesser of two evils does not mean you cannot question them or have doubts about information they provide. 

[AussieBob18]

10 minutes ago, teatree said:

Of course the US has an agenda to increase its power.  But would you rather live in a world dominated by the US or one dominated by a communist dictatorship?  

 

China poses a very real threat to everyone, and the world needs to wake up to it.

DING DING !!  Nail on the head hit.

 

There will always be 'The Boss' - choose wisely - or work for the Boss.  Either way it is obvious to me which is the better Boss - and it aint China - not by a looooooooooong way. 

 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

But the United States, which has been challenging China's growing influence in Southeast Asia,

 

So, The United States is not really challenging China's growth at all? Right? Or are they just capitulating?

China is winning in S.E.Asia hands down, while USA does all the talking, China is doing all the building.

Whether at sea or on land.

And it has one huge advantage, 1000 years of integrated history in the area, even before USA was founded.

[Iron Tongue]

24 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

China is winning in S.E.Asia hands down, while USA does all the talking, China is doing all the building.

Whether at sea or on land.

And it has one huge advantage, 1000 years of integrated history in the area, even before USA was founded.

Problem with 1000 years of history is that people know what you have done and are capable of doing again.

[marko kok prong]

Not just here but many area's of the world,Turkey plans large dams on the tigris and Euphrates,Iraq very worried. A river can have only so many dams,until it starts to resemble the photo at the top of the article,this has massive ramifications downstream,Tonle sap lake in Cambodia, and the Mekong delta in Vietnam,Tonle sap provides a huge amount of fish,and the delta is basically Vietnam rice bowl,so no water= no fish=no rice,the fact is China is to powerful and can do as they wish,if they decided to invade Se asia,the only country that would offer any sort of resistance would be vietnam.

[hotchilli]

57 minutes ago, Iron Tongue said:

Problem with 1000 years of history is that people know what you have done and are capable of doing again.

China has a strong foot hold in many of the Asian countries, by stealth they have built many roads, bridges, railways & companies, effectively having a grip on their individual economies... control that and you have the country in your back pocket. Countries like Thailand will roll over without a word because it needs Chinas trade, Cambodia [Hun Sen] has sold it's soul to China, Laos is a forgone conclusion, Vietnam are the only ones holding out to maintain it's sovereignty.

[SmartyMarty]

Given their track record, why would anyone believe anything they say.

[Isaan sailor]

The god-kings of Angkor Wat will cast a spell on China—or rather the CCP for the destruction of Mekong, and corresponding flow into and out of Tonle Sap canals.  The malicious undoing of ancient waterworks.

And the irony of Chinese hoards that crowd the sight—oblivious to their countries selfish actions... 

[DrTuner]

You can always trust CCP, Motherland knows best.

 

Somnamnaa.

[holy cow cm]

China needs a huge slap in the face. Bunch of liars. 

[KhaoNiaw]

6 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

Since you made it nebulous by using 'anything' in your question, the answer is easy; far more than anything China would ever have to say about 'anything'. That doesn't speak to my contempt for the US government, especially now, or any other government. Words to the contrary, the Chinese do not live by any concept of honor; at least the US still has some honor, though it won't be found in the president or any of his appointees.

So to sum up, watch yourselves around every single Chinese but you might be OK with a few Americans. 

[Dap]

I'm looking forward to reading what all the proChina folk have to say about this. Bring it on!

[Mavideol]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite this, China has continued to do its utmost to guarantee reasonable discharge volumes” to countries downstream, the ministry said

 

“Either Beijing is lying or their dam operators are lying to them. Somewhere, someone isn’t telling the truth," Eyler said.

China always, always tells the truth... if they were to release more water how could they control their neighbors economies.... they send military escorts ships, disguised as fishing ships to protect their fishing boats that are encroaching on other countries maritime rights but all in good faith

 

[Mavideol]

10 hours ago, canopy said:

When you restrict your "study" to dig up dirt on China and ignore what other countries like Laos are doing to the Mekong it questions whether the results are fair and unbiased.

 

any data to support your comments, what's Laos doing?

[ratcatcher]

Interesting link.   https://www.internationalrivers.org/campaigns/mekong-lancang-river

[IAMHERE]

6 hours ago, SmartyMarty said:

Given their track record, why would anyone believe anything they say.

If by 'they'  you mean 'Government' then I agree.

[Stargeezr]

Yes, this does not surprise me about China. everyone knows how

they really are, expecially as up stream neighbours, and this is the

solid proof.  

Geezer

[Redline]

21 hours ago, canopy said:

When you restrict your "study" to dig up dirt on China and ignore what other countries like Laos are doing to the Mekong it questions whether the results are fair and unbiased.

 

They are satellite photos ????

[sturdyd]

Someday Southeast Asia will realize that China is not their friend. Of course, by then it will be too late.

[metempsychotic]

Why would anyone be suprised at this?

 

The chinese have been steadily choking off all waterflow toncountries downstream.

 

There is plenty of information regarding dams both in existence and planned that should terrify the likes of laos, cambodia and thailand

Edited April 15, 2020 by metempsychotic

[Assurancetourix]

On 4/14/2020 at 5:46 PM, Mavideol said:

China always, always tells the truth... if they were to release more water how could they control their neighbors economies.... they send military escorts ships, disguised as fishing ships to protect their fishing boats that are encroaching on other countries maritime rights but all in good faith

 

All this will end in a real military confrontation.
Forget the skirmishes where
the Chinese regularly take the patee each time they cling to the Vietnamese .
If in addition to the Vietnamese army are added those of Cambodia, why not Laos which has it over its head to be colonized without any economic fallout;
I could have spoken of that of Thailand, but it is an army of operetta which has almost more generals than men of troop; so let's forget it and let it parade dressed like at carnival ..

[mikebell]

From the country that gave the world Peking Duck and the Woo-hoo virus comes Drought.

[rkidlad]

30 minutes ago, canopy said:

Off topic. How's the new thread coming along?

  

I'm not. Once again this is just a brain dead notion you made up. If you were to read my posts you would notice I've stated several times why I am here.

 

Link please.

 

Here are the links. I made the accusation along with the article and the thread, so the onus is on me to provide the evidence.

 

1.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/world/asia/china-mekong-drought.html

2.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/09/27/chinas-mekong-plans-threaten-disaster-for-countries-downstream/

 

3.

https://www.stimson.org/2020/new-evidence-how-china-turned-off-the-mekong-tap/

 

4.

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2019-11-07/troubles-
 

5.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3021062/china-taking-control-vital-mekong-river-through-dam-building-spree-mike

 

I know you haven’t shared a single link, but I can’t lower my standards to an attitude of basically, “You’re a grown up. Find your own links”. People see that and they know the poster has nothing to offer. 
 

Enjoy the links. Oh, I’ve got loads more.

 

Edited April 16, 2020 by rkidlad

[Virt]

Reminds me of the news 10 years ago. Same old story. 

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSTRE6341A620100405

[Farmerkev]

Really you needed to investigate something we all here in thailand new about over eight years ago 

[canopy]

On 4/16/2020 at 4:31 PM, rkidlad said:

Here are the links

The links do not show China is harming the Mekong more than others which you claim. Neither does this study.

 

On 4/16/2020 at 4:31 PM, rkidlad said:

I know you haven’t shared a single link

This is a verifiably false statement.

 

On 4/16/2020 at 4:31 PM, rkidlad said:

I can’t lower my standards to an attitude of basically, “You’re a grown up. Find your own links”.

Me either. How's the new topic coming?

 

[rkidlad]

3 hours ago, canopy said:

The links do not show China is harming the Mekong more than others which you claim. Neither does this study.

 

This is a verifiably false statement.

 

Me either. How's the new topic coming?

 

The links clearly explain how China is harming the Mekong by withholding water. Feel free to contact the people who did the research for the articles and have it out with them. 
 

Now, where are your links to articles about how other counties in the area are doing the same damage as China. We wait with bated breath........

Edited April 18, 2020 by rkidlad