By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Recent diplomatic activity in the Mekong basin should not be underestimated by policy makers in Bangkok. The major superpowers have given their attention to the region and there could be significant development in the region's geo-politics. Ads by Google
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concluded a meeting with her counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam last week, back-to-back with the Asean ministerial meeting in Phuket.
Although the first US-Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting produced no breakthrough, Clinton has shown Washington's commitment to expanding cooperation in environment, health, education and infrastructure development.
In a joint statement after the meeting, Clinton underlined the importance of the Mekong region and its individual countries to the US commitment to advancing peace and prosperity.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said Mekong basin countries wanted to see regular gatherings of ministers from the region and the US - if possible back-to-back with the Asean annual meetings.
Ministers of both sides agreed on the Mekong River Commission and the Mississippi River Commission pursuing a "sister river" partnership to share expertise and best practices in climate change adaptation; flood and drought management; hydropower and impact assessment; water demand and food security; water resource management, and other common concerns. They agreed senior officials and experts would discuss specific activities for cooperation and follow-up.
The initiative opened up room and roles for the US to play in the Mekong region it left after the Vietnam War in 1975, the war which created pain for Americans for years.
Laos's minister played it down. But it's understandable Clinton's initiative for a role in the Mekong basin would impact China which has boosted its place in the region for decades.
China regarded the Mekong basin as its backyard and backdoor to Southeast Asia -developing its stretch of the Mekong River for hydropower production and navigation since the early 1990s to connect with Southeast Asia. China has poured much into infrastructure development in the Mekong basin, including a road construction via Northern Laos to Thailand. Chinese leaders have their regular meetings with counterparts at minister and leader level under the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) scheme.
Not only China, but also Japan has increased its role in Mekong basin development for a long time. Tokyo has formed regular meetings with foreign ministers of Mekong basin countries since last year - the first in Tokyo in January. The second ministerial meeting is due in Cambodia's Siem Reap in October and Japan has proposed a summit meeting later this year.
Japan engaged the Mekong basin in the context of Asean, aiming to bridge the development gap between old Asean members and new members Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, known in Asean language as CLMV [M stands for Myanmar - Burma].
Unlike the US, China and Japan accept Burma in the cooperation plans, despite the junta-run regime's political difficulties.
Fortunately, Thailand was not left behind - and Thai ministers have seats in all meetings between the Mekong countries and the US, China and Japan.
However Bangkok needs a clear strategy for its association. Thailand has not the same status as other countries in the Mekong region because of its advanced economy and position as Asean founding member. Thailand is no longer a recipient but a regional donor country which has consistently played a significant role in Mekong basin development.
Previous governments positioned the country as coordinator of several cooperative and development schemes in the region, linking the superpowers and the Mekong countries.
The current government does not make clear whether it would maintain such a position. Its role was not high profile in the US-Lower Mekong cooperation - and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said he has no strategy for the Japan-Mekong ministerial meeting in Siem Reap in October.
It is not too late to fine tune a strategy for any Mekong basin movement, but the time is not plentiful either. Many countries have begun to move.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concluded a meeting with her counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam last week, back-to-back with the Asean ministerial meeting in Phuket.
Although the first US-Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting produced no breakthrough, Clinton has shown Washington's commitment to expanding cooperation in environment, health, education and infrastructure development.
In a joint statement after the meeting, Clinton underlined the importance of the Mekong region and its individual countries to the US commitment to advancing peace and prosperity.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said Mekong basin countries wanted to see regular gatherings of ministers from the region and the US - if possible back-to-back with the Asean annual meetings.
Ministers of both sides agreed on the Mekong River Commission and the Mississippi River Commission pursuing a "sister river" partnership to share expertise and best practices in climate change adaptation; flood and drought management; hydropower and impact assessment; water demand and food security; water resource management, and other common concerns. They agreed senior officials and experts would discuss specific activities for cooperation and follow-up.
The initiative opened up room and roles for the US to play in the Mekong region it left after the Vietnam War in 1975, the war which created pain for Americans for years.
Laos's minister played it down. But it's understandable Clinton's initiative for a role in the Mekong basin would impact China which has boosted its place in the region for decades.
China regarded the Mekong basin as its backyard and backdoor to Southeast Asia -developing its stretch of the Mekong River for hydropower production and navigation since the early 1990s to connect with Southeast Asia. China has poured much into infrastructure development in the Mekong basin, including a road construction via Northern Laos to Thailand. Chinese leaders have their regular meetings with counterparts at minister and leader level under the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) scheme.
Not only China, but also Japan has increased its role in Mekong basin development for a long time. Tokyo has formed regular meetings with foreign ministers of Mekong basin countries since last year - the first in Tokyo in January. The second ministerial meeting is due in Cambodia's Siem Reap in October and Japan has proposed a summit meeting later this year.
Japan engaged the Mekong basin in the context of Asean, aiming to bridge the development gap between old Asean members and new members Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, known in Asean language as CLMV [M stands for Myanmar - Burma].
Unlike the US, China and Japan accept Burma in the cooperation plans, despite the junta-run regime's political difficulties.
Fortunately, Thailand was not left behind - and Thai ministers have seats in all meetings between the Mekong countries and the US, China and Japan.
However Bangkok needs a clear strategy for its association. Thailand has not the same status as other countries in the Mekong region because of its advanced economy and position as Asean founding member. Thailand is no longer a recipient but a regional donor country which has consistently played a significant role in Mekong basin development.
Previous governments positioned the country as coordinator of several cooperative and development schemes in the region, linking the superpowers and the Mekong countries.
The current government does not make clear whether it would maintain such a position. Its role was not high profile in the US-Lower Mekong cooperation - and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said he has no strategy for the Japan-Mekong ministerial meeting in Siem Reap in October.
It is not too late to fine tune a strategy for any Mekong basin movement, but the time is not plentiful either. Many countries have begun to move.
3 comments:
If the participators anticipated positive expectattions from a primary school girl, they will go home with great disappointment.
PPU
PPU,
we don't care for your comments.
Its corny, its "stupidly"
What ah thai theft can do for the regional stability other than encroach its neighbor sovereignty and arrogant behavior? They’re nothing!
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