New Mekong River blasting project will only benefit China: experts
By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM
THE NATION

 

 

Plan to make river accessible to barges ‘will seriously hurt Thailand and Laos’

 

BANGKOK: -- ECONOMIC experts have warned that the Mekong-Lancang River navigation-channel improvement project will only benefit China – while having serious negative impacts on Thailand and Laos.

 

At a public forum entitled “Criticising the Mekong River’s Rapids Removal Project” at Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation yesterday, experts from different fields expressed concern about the plan to make the Mekong navigable for cargo barges of up to 500 tonnes gross. The barges will be able to travel from China’s Yunnan province to Luang Prabang in Laos all year round. 

 

Experts said the project would only benefit a few people while millions who depend on the river for their livelihoods would end up suffering. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30304339

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-01-18

Time and time again the Chinese government shows they care about nothing other than maintaining their power at home, and expanding it abroad, no matter at what cost.

Okay, so China will need to provide a couple cash grants to governments of Thailand and Laos and all river problems will be reconciliated.

Considering China is running Thailand via a proxy government, is this really a surprise. Thailand, the Chinese colony.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Experts said the project would only benefit a few people while millions who depend on the river for their livelihoods would end up suffering. 

Doesn't sound right. Have you not read about all the good deeds China is doing around the world. Mr. Xi is in Davos as we speak talking globalism free trade (on his terms of course) They are the savior of Asia how can this be possible. 

China only helps China.  

Why would China want to send lots of 500 tonne barges to Luang Prabang?

 

And what about the various dams being proposed that will create a problem by preventing fish from moving up and down the river as well as seriously affecting the water levels? A lot of people in NE Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam will suffer but then, they're not Chinese so why should they care?

8 minutes ago, mrfill said:

Why would China want to send lots of 500 tonne barges to Luang Prabang?

 

And what about the various dams being proposed that will create a problem by preventing fish from moving up and down the river as well as seriously affecting the water levels? A lot of people in NE Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam will suffer but then, they're not Chinese so why should they care?

 

They want to bring them further eventually, they want to move things inland, to stop relying on moving through the South China Sea.  And considering all the opposition they are getting to their protection of that trade route, it seems they just can't win.

7 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Okay, so China will need to provide a couple cash grants to governments of Thailand and Laos and all river problems will be reconciliated.

 

No, Thailand agreed to provide ports and allow free movement on the river back in 2000, along with Myanmar, Laos and China.  Now China are keeping to their part of the deal and some are suddenly worried, probably it would have better to have considered the consequences of the plan before signing it.

The little water released by the Chinese will flow much faster and unhindered down the Mekong which will create havoc - you've been warned. 

26 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

The little water released by the Chinese will flow much faster and unhindered down the Mekong which will create havoc - you've been warned. 

 

Hindrances, as you call them, reduce the area within the river and make the water move faster, removing rocks from the river as they are doing will increase the area that the water flows through and so slow the water down, there is likely to be  disturbance at the Thai end, but it will be from silt washed down from all the blasting and the decease in speed will cause it to settle at a increased rate.  But no doubt China will end up paying for Thailands part of the deal and maintain the dredging of the shipping route along the Thai border.

17 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Okay, so China will need to provide a couple cash grants to governments of Thailand and Laos and all river problems will be reconciliated.

Followed up with some serious forelock tugging and bootlicking by PM Prayuth to Mr. Xi.

Much the same sort of thing Prayuth himself expects from others as the Supreme Leader of Thailand.

On 18/01/2017 at 0:51 PM, Shawn0000 said:

 

Hindrances, as you call them, reduce the area within the river and make the water move faster, removing rocks from the river as they are doing will increase the area that the water flows through and so slow the water down, there is likely to be  disturbance at the Thai end, but it will be from silt washed down from all the blasting and the decease in speed will cause it to settle at a increased rate.  But no doubt China will end up paying for Thailands part of the deal and maintain the dredging of the shipping route along the Thai border.

 

https://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/8477

 

That is the real problem on the Mekong

12 minutes ago, mrfill said:

 

https://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/8477

 

That is the real problem on the Mekong

 

It is an enormous project and will effect a great deal of peoples lives, and unfortunately many will no doubt not be helped.  But what can be done for these people who are landlocked, without possibility to build roads or railways?  It is also not fair to leave them without possibility to trade, paying extremely high prices for goods we take for granted, this project will bring them affordable food and the chance to sell their goods, it is not all bad.