After the Mekong River murders that claimed the lives of 13 Chinese sailors in October 2011, problems in the Mekong region such as safety of navigation have received broad attention.

 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Greater Mekong Sub-region cooperation efforts. The cooperation between China and surrounding countries in Mekong region has expanded in recent years.

The Report on the Cooperation and development in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (2011-2012), published by the School of International Studies of Yunnan University, comprehensively summarizes and analyzes the new development, situation and trends in the sub-region from 2011 to 2012.

Their analysis indicates that China faces many challenges in engaging in cooperation along the river.  

The Mekong River is an important international waterway flowing through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Powers outside this region are paying increasing attention to the Mekong region.

Strategic investment from countries like US, Japan and India as well as from relevant international organizations increases with each passing day.

According to the Report, China faces growing environmental pressures. Countries are exerting more control over their own national resources nowadays and are more conscious of environmental problems.

China's investment and cooperation focus on the development of hydroelectric resources in Mekong region. Since China is located upstream and its projects easily affect those downstream, it is often blamed for environmental damage to other nations. 

With the US return to Southeast Asia, countries along the Mekong River have strengthened military and defense cooperation with powers outside the region. Disputes in the South China Sea are becoming internationalized.

Moreover, navigation security problems of the Mekong River have emerged as a major issue. The unstable political situations in North Myanmar will affect Chinese investment and border security.

The Report comes to the conclusion that the clashes of strategic purpose and investment along the riverine region will bring new uncertainties to the regional situation and international relations.

The Report also suggests China should strengthen communications with countries in the region at both the national level and local level, to cope with the increasing complexities and competition in regional cooperation.

With the political and economic developments and changes in this area, as well as the involvement of extra-regional countries, cooperation is facing new problems and challenges. Countries should act together to meet these challenges.

As the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration points out, "The overarching challenge now is to ensure sustainability and continued effectiveness in this new context, even faced with a complex external environment both regionally and globally."