Beijing saves Mekong islets

Beijing saves Mekong islets

Environmental groups, civil society and the Rak Chiang Khong activists have been calling on China to rubbish plans to destroy islets and outcroppings off Chiang Rai. (File photo)
Environmental groups, civil society and the Rak Chiang Khong activists have been calling on China to rubbish plans to destroy islets and outcroppings off Chiang Rai. (File photo)

The revelation that China is backing away from its plans to blow up islands and outcroppings in the Mekong River is welcome news. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said he had raised the issue last month during a visit by Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. It is a wise move by Beijing. It comes more than two years after all riverside communities and civil society in four countries had registered strong opposition.

China's plan to destroy inconvenient Mekong features was to facilitate commerce. In particular, China wanted a clearer river channel from Yunnan province to Luang Prabang in central Laos. And to achieve that, Beijing claimed it had to blast numerous islets in Chiang Rai province. Of course, as Beijing now appears to admit, there are numerous alternatives to such destruction.

It is notable that during the intimidating two years of insistence by China on environmental destruction that the government carefully chose to stay aloof. On two occasions, the government asked China to hold off. But Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Mr Don and the cabinet never directly opposed the Chinese plan.

Not so residents of Chiang Rai and a large portion of Thai civil society. They have actively opposed plans that would have made a particularly picturesque Mekong channel desolate. But China's plan to put TNT under numerous small islands threatened far more than aesthetics. Communities all along the Mekong depend on the "mother of rivers" for life. Among the first negative results of blasting would be the removal of the thousands of places fish spawn and live. Fishermen would be the first casualties.

One hopes Beijing will quickly confirm Mr Don's happy news. It will be greeted enthusiastically from Yunnan to Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Mr Don himself credited environmentalists from four downstream countries for helping to influence the Chinese decision -- Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. According to the Thai foreign minister, the governments of these four countries also appealed to China to reconsider plans to dynamite their way to a wider, deeper Mekong that would affect the entire river.

It also must be hoped that Beijing now is more vitally aware that the Mekong is not a Chinese river. While Chiang Rai people and the Rak Chiang Khong Conservation Group focused on a relatively short section of the Mekong, the fact is that destroying the Chiang Khong district islets would affect those far downstream.

As recently as January, the military regime allowed public hearings on the issue. A Chinese government-approved company, CCCC Second Harbour Consultants, was designated by Beijing to take part. But there was no apparent participation by the government of Thailand. In fact, in December of 2016, the government approved the "development plan" of the Mekong foisted on Thailand by Chinese authorities -- including the clearing of a Mekong channel by explosives.

At the weekend, Mr Don appeared clearly relieved that China had dropped its destructive plans. He praised the "positive response" and "constructive decision" expressed by Mr Wang. All thoughtful people will agree, but the government should take a more forceful stance to protect the national environment.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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