Navigating Water Policy: Vietnam's Strategic Shift in the Mekong River Basin (2017-2021)
Keywords:
water policy, Mekong river basin, Vietnam foreign policy
water policy, Mekong river basin, Vietnam foreign policy
Abstract
The historic drought and salinity stress experienced in Vietnam in 2020 starkly demonstrated the criticality of wise water diplomacy for the survival of lower Mekong countries, where the urgent need for water and maintaining natural flow are paramount. Consequently, the period from 2017 to 2021 witnessed a notable shift in Vietnam's water diplomacy, focusing on ensuring water security in the region and responding to the actions of upstream countries. This study examines Vietnam's water diplomacy and its pivotal role in safeguarding water security in the Mekong region during the specified timeframe. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study draws upon expert analyses and scholarly articles to shed light on the significance of water security in Vietnam's foreign policy, the profound impact of climate change and water policies on the nation, and Vietnam's proactive involvement in regional and international cooperation mechanisms. The study emphasizes Vietnam's remarkable adaptability and responsiveness to environmental and global changes, further showcasing the country's remarkable flexibility in its foreign policy pursuits.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Bao, P. N., Mitra, B. K., & Kuyama, T. (2017). Integrated approach for sustainable hydropower development in the Mekong River basin. Environ. Nat. Resour. Res, 7, 60.
Binh, L. H. (2018). Cac co che hop tac o khu vuc Mekong và su tham gia cua Vietnam (Cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong river and Vietnam’s participation). Retrieved Oct 23, 2022, from https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/van_hoa_xa_hoi/-/2018/51196/cac-co-che-hop-tac-o-khu-vuc-me-cong-va-su-tham-gia-cua-viet-nam.aspx
DMC. (2016). Tinh hinh han han, xam nhap man va cac bien phap ung pho (The situation os drought, saltwater intrusion and countermeasures). Retrieved 22 Oct, 2022, from http://dmc.gov.vn/uploads/Thong%20tin%20Thien%20tai%20-%20Disaster%20Information/2016/03.2016/Han%20han/bao%20cao%20han%20vs%20xnm.pdf?lang=vi-VN
DWRW. (2017). 10 su kien noi bat nam 2016 vung ĐBSCL (10 remarkable events in 2016 of Mekong Delta region). Department of water resources management. Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from http://dwrm.gov.vn/index.php?language=vi&nv=news&op=Hoat-dong-cua-dia-phuong/10-su-kien-noi-bat-nam-2016-vung-Dong-bang-song-Cuu-Long-5470
DWRW. (2021). Ngoai giao nguon nuoc song Mekong huong toi su phat trien ben vung cua khu vuc tieu vung (Water diplomacy of Mekong river towards the sustainable development of the sub-region). Retrieved 24 Oct, 2022, from http://dwrm.gov.vn/index.php?language=vi&nv=news&op=Hop-tac-quoc-te/Ngoai-giao-nguon-nuoc-song-Mekong-huong-toi-su-phat-trien-ben-vung-cua-khu-vuc-tieu-vung-10927
FMPRC. (2016). Foreign Ministry of People Republic of China. http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/t1347923.shtml
Grafton, R. Q., Garrick, D., Manero, A., & Do, T. N. (2019). The water governance reform framework: Overview and applications to Australia, Mexico, Tanzania, USA and Vietnam. Water, 11(1), 137.
Han, H. (2017). China, an upstream hegemon: A destabilizer for the governance of the Mekong river?. Pacific Focus, 32(1), 30-55.
Hirsch, P., Jensen, K. M., Boer, B., Carrard, N., FitzGerald, S., & Lyster, R. (2006). National interests and transboundary water governance in the Mekong (pp. 26-27). Australian Mekong Resource Centre, in collaboration with Danish International Development Assistance.
Kinna, R., & Rieu-Clarke, A. (2017). The governance regime of the Mekong River basin: Can the global water conventions strengthen the 1995 Mekong agreement? (p. 92). Brill Publisher.
Koziell, & Fernando. (2022, April 1). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems. CGIAR. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://www.cgiar.org/research/program-platform/water-land-ecosystems/
Kura, Y., Joffre, O., Laplante, B., & Sengvilaykham, B. (2017). Coping with resettlement: A livelihood adaptation analysis in the Mekong River basin. Land Use Policy, 60, 139-149.
Li, D., Long, D., Zhao, J., Lu, H., & Hong, Y. (2017). Observed changes in flow regimes in the Mekong River basin. Journal of Hydrology, 551, 217-232.
Lohani, S., Dilts, T. E., Weisberg, P. J., Null, S. E., & Hogan, Z. S. (2020). Rapidly accelerating deforestation in Cambodia’s Mekong River Basin: A comparative analysis of spatial patterns and drivers. Water, 12(8), 2191.
Marwaan. (2021). Thailand challenges Laos dam buiding spree on Mekong River. Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Thailand-challenges-Laos-dam-building-spree-on-Mekong-River
Mekong River Commission. (2022). Mekong low flow and drought conditions in 2019–2021: Hydrological conditions in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Vientiane: MRC Secretariat.
Mirumachi, N. (2020). Informal water diplomacy and power: A case of seeking water security in the Mekong River basin. Environmental Science & Policy, 114, 86-95.
Mofa. (2009). Action plan for “A decade toward the Green Mekong” initiatives. Retrieved 24 Oct, 2022, from https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/mekong/summit02/pdfs/gm10_iap_pl_en.pdf
MRC, M. R. (2023). Mekong River Commission. Retrieved from mrcmekong: https://www.mrcmekong.org/
Nguyen H. H., (2022). Tac dong xuyen bien gioi cua he thong bac thang thuy dien tren song Mekong (Transboundary impacts of the hydropower cascade system on the Mekong River). Vietnam Energy Magazine.
Nguyen M. Q. (2017). Viet Nam va cuoc chien nguon nuoc (Vietnam and water struggle). Can Tho University. VIFA. Retrieved 27 Sept, 2022, from https://baovemoitruong.org.vn/viet-nam-va-cuoc-chien-nguon-nuoc/
Nhandan. (2019). Vietnam, Netherlands strenthen cooperation in climate change adaption and water management. Retrieved 26 Oct, 2022, from https://en.nhandan.vn/vietnam-netherlands-strengthen-cooperation-in-climate-change-adaptation-and-water-management-post72515.html
Pham T. T. B. (2021). Chien luoc cua Trung Quoc va Nhat Ban trong khu vuc GMS va mot so van de dat ra voi Vietnam (China and Japan’s strategies in the GMS and some issues with Vietnam). Communist Review. Retrieved 17 Sept, 2022, from https://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/the-gioi-van-de-su-kien/-/2018/824385/chien-luoc-cua-trung-quoc-va-nhat-ban-trong-khu-vuc-tieu-vung-song-mekong-mo-rong-va-mot-so-van-de-dat-ra-doi-voi-viet-nam.aspx
Piman, T., & Shrestha, M. (2017). Case study on sediment in the Mekong River Basin: Current state and future trends. Stockholm Environment Institute: Stockholm, Sweden.
Räsänen, T. A., Someth, P., Lauri, H., Koponen, J., Sarkkula, J., & Kummu, M. (2017). Observed river discharge changes due to hydropower operations in the Upper Mekong Basin. Journal of hydrology, 545, 28-41.
Ringler, C., von Braun, J., & Rosegrant, M. W. (2004). Water policy analysis for the Mekong River Basin. Water International, 29(1), 30-42.
Sanchez, J. S. (2019). The Mekong River: Geopolitics over development, hydropower and the environment. Belgium, European Union: The Policy Department.
Sneddon, C., & Fox, C. (2007). Power, development, and institutional change: Participatory governance in the lower Mekong basin. World Development, 35(12), 2161-2181.
Thanh N. (2021). Ba nam nhin lai nghi quyet 120 ve mot ĐBSCL “thuan thien” ben vung (Three years to look back at Resolution 120 on a sustainable Mekong delta adapting to nature). Retrieved 22 Oct, 2022, from https://thanhnien.vn/3-nam-nhin-lai-nghi-quyet-120-ve-mot-dbscl-thuan-thien-ben-vung-post1045641.html
The Diplomat. (2016). China and the Mekong Delta water savior or water tyrant. Retrieved 19 Oct, 2022, from http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/china-and-the-mekong-delta-water-savior-or-water-tyrant/
Tuấn, V. V. (2015). Các yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến kết quả sinh kế của nông hộ ở Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long. Tạp chí Khoa học Trường Đại học Cần Thơ, (38), 120-129.
Tue, C. (2020). Han man "len dinh", 80.000ha cay an trai nguy co bi anh huong nghiem trong. Tuoi Tre Newspaper.
Tuoi Tre. (2022). Viet Nam muon cac nuoc doc song Mekong tang chia se du lieu thuy dien (Vietnam wants the countries along Mekong river to increase sharing of hydropower data). Retrieved 26 Oct, 2022, from https://tuoitre.vn/viet-nam-muon-cac-nuoc-doc-song-mekong-tang-chia-se-du-lieu-thuy-dien-20220704222256441.htm
U.S mission to ASEAN. (2021). Media note – office of the spokeperson. Retrieved 25 Oct, 2022, from https://asean.usmission.gov/united-states-and-vietnam-convene-17-friends-of-the-mekong-in-support-of-a-secure-prosperous-and-open-mekong-region/
Vncold. (2016). Tinh hinh nhap khau 2015-2016 vung ĐBSCL, han han o mien Trung, Tay Nguyen va de xuat khac phuc cac giai phap (Import situation in Mekong delta 2015-2016, drought in the central, highland and proposing solutions). Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from http://www.vncold.vn/web/content.aspx?distid=4061
Vnembassy-oslo. (2015). MRC wants China and Myanmar joined. SRVN. Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from https://vnembassy-oslo.mofa.gov.vn/en-us/About%20Vietnam/General%20Information/Economic/Pages/MRC-wants-China-and-Myanmar-joined.aspx
Vu, T. M., & Nguyen, T. (2021). “Adapting to Nature”: A Preliminary Assessment of Vietnam’s Mekong Water Diplomacy since 2017.
Wang, K., Liu, J., Xia, J., Wang, Z., Meng, Y., Chen, H., ... & Ye, B. (2021). Understanding the impacts of climate change and socio-economic development through food-energy-water nexus: A case study of mekong river delta. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 167, 105390.
WRM. (2022). “Energy trade or our life”: The struggle against the dams in the Mekong river mainstream. Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from https://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin-articles/the-struggle-against-the-dams-in-the-mekong-river-mainstream
Yanjun, G. (2017). The evolution of China’s water diplomacy in the Lancang-Mekong River basin: Motivation and policy choices. In China and transboundary water politics in Asia (pp. 72-88). Routledge.
Yun, G., Williams, S., & Wenbin, D. (2017). Water management of the Mekong River. Malays. J. Sustain. Agric, 1(2), 15-17.
Binh, L. H. (2018). Cac co che hop tac o khu vuc Mekong và su tham gia cua Vietnam (Cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong river and Vietnam’s participation). Retrieved Oct 23, 2022, from https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/van_hoa_xa_hoi/-/2018/51196/cac-co-che-hop-tac-o-khu-vuc-me-cong-va-su-tham-gia-cua-viet-nam.aspx
DMC. (2016). Tinh hinh han han, xam nhap man va cac bien phap ung pho (The situation os drought, saltwater intrusion and countermeasures). Retrieved 22 Oct, 2022, from http://dmc.gov.vn/uploads/Thong%20tin%20Thien%20tai%20-%20Disaster%20Information/2016/03.2016/Han%20han/bao%20cao%20han%20vs%20xnm.pdf?lang=vi-VN
DWRW. (2017). 10 su kien noi bat nam 2016 vung ĐBSCL (10 remarkable events in 2016 of Mekong Delta region). Department of water resources management. Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from http://dwrm.gov.vn/index.php?language=vi&nv=news&op=Hoat-dong-cua-dia-phuong/10-su-kien-noi-bat-nam-2016-vung-Dong-bang-song-Cuu-Long-5470
DWRW. (2021). Ngoai giao nguon nuoc song Mekong huong toi su phat trien ben vung cua khu vuc tieu vung (Water diplomacy of Mekong river towards the sustainable development of the sub-region). Retrieved 24 Oct, 2022, from http://dwrm.gov.vn/index.php?language=vi&nv=news&op=Hop-tac-quoc-te/Ngoai-giao-nguon-nuoc-song-Mekong-huong-toi-su-phat-trien-ben-vung-cua-khu-vuc-tieu-vung-10927
FMPRC. (2016). Foreign Ministry of People Republic of China. http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/t1347923.shtml
Grafton, R. Q., Garrick, D., Manero, A., & Do, T. N. (2019). The water governance reform framework: Overview and applications to Australia, Mexico, Tanzania, USA and Vietnam. Water, 11(1), 137.
Han, H. (2017). China, an upstream hegemon: A destabilizer for the governance of the Mekong river?. Pacific Focus, 32(1), 30-55.
Hirsch, P., Jensen, K. M., Boer, B., Carrard, N., FitzGerald, S., & Lyster, R. (2006). National interests and transboundary water governance in the Mekong (pp. 26-27). Australian Mekong Resource Centre, in collaboration with Danish International Development Assistance.
Kinna, R., & Rieu-Clarke, A. (2017). The governance regime of the Mekong River basin: Can the global water conventions strengthen the 1995 Mekong agreement? (p. 92). Brill Publisher.
Koziell, & Fernando. (2022, April 1). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems. CGIAR. Retrieved May 19, 2023, from https://www.cgiar.org/research/program-platform/water-land-ecosystems/
Kura, Y., Joffre, O., Laplante, B., & Sengvilaykham, B. (2017). Coping with resettlement: A livelihood adaptation analysis in the Mekong River basin. Land Use Policy, 60, 139-149.
Li, D., Long, D., Zhao, J., Lu, H., & Hong, Y. (2017). Observed changes in flow regimes in the Mekong River basin. Journal of Hydrology, 551, 217-232.
Lohani, S., Dilts, T. E., Weisberg, P. J., Null, S. E., & Hogan, Z. S. (2020). Rapidly accelerating deforestation in Cambodia’s Mekong River Basin: A comparative analysis of spatial patterns and drivers. Water, 12(8), 2191.
Marwaan. (2021). Thailand challenges Laos dam buiding spree on Mekong River. Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Thailand-challenges-Laos-dam-building-spree-on-Mekong-River
Mekong River Commission. (2022). Mekong low flow and drought conditions in 2019–2021: Hydrological conditions in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Vientiane: MRC Secretariat.
Mirumachi, N. (2020). Informal water diplomacy and power: A case of seeking water security in the Mekong River basin. Environmental Science & Policy, 114, 86-95.
Mofa. (2009). Action plan for “A decade toward the Green Mekong” initiatives. Retrieved 24 Oct, 2022, from https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/mekong/summit02/pdfs/gm10_iap_pl_en.pdf
MRC, M. R. (2023). Mekong River Commission. Retrieved from mrcmekong: https://www.mrcmekong.org/
Nguyen H. H., (2022). Tac dong xuyen bien gioi cua he thong bac thang thuy dien tren song Mekong (Transboundary impacts of the hydropower cascade system on the Mekong River). Vietnam Energy Magazine.
Nguyen M. Q. (2017). Viet Nam va cuoc chien nguon nuoc (Vietnam and water struggle). Can Tho University. VIFA. Retrieved 27 Sept, 2022, from https://baovemoitruong.org.vn/viet-nam-va-cuoc-chien-nguon-nuoc/
Nhandan. (2019). Vietnam, Netherlands strenthen cooperation in climate change adaption and water management. Retrieved 26 Oct, 2022, from https://en.nhandan.vn/vietnam-netherlands-strengthen-cooperation-in-climate-change-adaptation-and-water-management-post72515.html
Pham T. T. B. (2021). Chien luoc cua Trung Quoc va Nhat Ban trong khu vuc GMS va mot so van de dat ra voi Vietnam (China and Japan’s strategies in the GMS and some issues with Vietnam). Communist Review. Retrieved 17 Sept, 2022, from https://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/the-gioi-van-de-su-kien/-/2018/824385/chien-luoc-cua-trung-quoc-va-nhat-ban-trong-khu-vuc-tieu-vung-song-mekong-mo-rong-va-mot-so-van-de-dat-ra-doi-voi-viet-nam.aspx
Piman, T., & Shrestha, M. (2017). Case study on sediment in the Mekong River Basin: Current state and future trends. Stockholm Environment Institute: Stockholm, Sweden.
Räsänen, T. A., Someth, P., Lauri, H., Koponen, J., Sarkkula, J., & Kummu, M. (2017). Observed river discharge changes due to hydropower operations in the Upper Mekong Basin. Journal of hydrology, 545, 28-41.
Ringler, C., von Braun, J., & Rosegrant, M. W. (2004). Water policy analysis for the Mekong River Basin. Water International, 29(1), 30-42.
Sanchez, J. S. (2019). The Mekong River: Geopolitics over development, hydropower and the environment. Belgium, European Union: The Policy Department.
Sneddon, C., & Fox, C. (2007). Power, development, and institutional change: Participatory governance in the lower Mekong basin. World Development, 35(12), 2161-2181.
Thanh N. (2021). Ba nam nhin lai nghi quyet 120 ve mot ĐBSCL “thuan thien” ben vung (Three years to look back at Resolution 120 on a sustainable Mekong delta adapting to nature). Retrieved 22 Oct, 2022, from https://thanhnien.vn/3-nam-nhin-lai-nghi-quyet-120-ve-mot-dbscl-thuan-thien-ben-vung-post1045641.html
The Diplomat. (2016). China and the Mekong Delta water savior or water tyrant. Retrieved 19 Oct, 2022, from http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/china-and-the-mekong-delta-water-savior-or-water-tyrant/
Tuấn, V. V. (2015). Các yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến kết quả sinh kế của nông hộ ở Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long. Tạp chí Khoa học Trường Đại học Cần Thơ, (38), 120-129.
Tue, C. (2020). Han man "len dinh", 80.000ha cay an trai nguy co bi anh huong nghiem trong. Tuoi Tre Newspaper.
Tuoi Tre. (2022). Viet Nam muon cac nuoc doc song Mekong tang chia se du lieu thuy dien (Vietnam wants the countries along Mekong river to increase sharing of hydropower data). Retrieved 26 Oct, 2022, from https://tuoitre.vn/viet-nam-muon-cac-nuoc-doc-song-mekong-tang-chia-se-du-lieu-thuy-dien-20220704222256441.htm
U.S mission to ASEAN. (2021). Media note – office of the spokeperson. Retrieved 25 Oct, 2022, from https://asean.usmission.gov/united-states-and-vietnam-convene-17-friends-of-the-mekong-in-support-of-a-secure-prosperous-and-open-mekong-region/
Vncold. (2016). Tinh hinh nhap khau 2015-2016 vung ĐBSCL, han han o mien Trung, Tay Nguyen va de xuat khac phuc cac giai phap (Import situation in Mekong delta 2015-2016, drought in the central, highland and proposing solutions). Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from http://www.vncold.vn/web/content.aspx?distid=4061
Vnembassy-oslo. (2015). MRC wants China and Myanmar joined. SRVN. Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from https://vnembassy-oslo.mofa.gov.vn/en-us/About%20Vietnam/General%20Information/Economic/Pages/MRC-wants-China-and-Myanmar-joined.aspx
Vu, T. M., & Nguyen, T. (2021). “Adapting to Nature”: A Preliminary Assessment of Vietnam’s Mekong Water Diplomacy since 2017.
Wang, K., Liu, J., Xia, J., Wang, Z., Meng, Y., Chen, H., ... & Ye, B. (2021). Understanding the impacts of climate change and socio-economic development through food-energy-water nexus: A case study of mekong river delta. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 167, 105390.
WRM. (2022). “Energy trade or our life”: The struggle against the dams in the Mekong river mainstream. Retrieved 20 Oct, 2022, from https://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin-articles/the-struggle-against-the-dams-in-the-mekong-river-mainstream
Yanjun, G. (2017). The evolution of China’s water diplomacy in the Lancang-Mekong River basin: Motivation and policy choices. In China and transboundary water politics in Asia (pp. 72-88). Routledge.
Yun, G., Williams, S., & Wenbin, D. (2017). Water management of the Mekong River. Malays. J. Sustain. Agric, 1(2), 15-17.
Published
2023-05-22
How to Cite
Le TranL., & NguyenT. A. H. (2023, May 22). Navigating Water Policy: Vietnam’s Strategic Shift in the Mekong River Basin (2017-2021). Resolusi: Jurnal Sosial Politik, 6(1), 60-75. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32699/resolusi.v6i1.3704
Issue
Section
Article
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
By submitting a manuscript, the authors understand that if accepted for publication, the authors hold and retain their article’s copyright. The copyright is without any restriction.
As the publisher of Resolusi: Jurnal Sosial Politik, the Department of Political Science - Universitas Sains Al-Qur'an attempts its best to facilitate everyone who wish to publish their article by ensuring that every article meets academic rules and ethics.
_.png)
_1.png)
_.png)
