Between system maker and privileges taker: the role of China in the Greater Mekong Sub-region

Vu, Truong-Minh

doi:10.1590/0034-7329201400210

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…30 Haiyun Chen and Ting Zhu, "The complexity of cooperative governance and optimization of institutional arrangements in the Greater Mekong Subregion," Land Use Policy 50 (2016). Hensengerth (2008), Yoshimatsu (2010), Biba (2013), Hong (2012) and-Vu (2014. 31 Regarding the common benefits shared by GMS countries, the ADB emphasises the importance of human and natural resources of the Mekong River Basin (MRB) in the foundation of the GMS.…”

Section: The Gms Programmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regionalisation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): Vietnam in the GMS Cooperation Program

Le Dung

2023

Preprint

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In Vietnam, regionalisation in the GMS occurs in different parts at different paces and levels driven by thecentral government and with the participation of the local governments, private sector and grassrootspeople in the framework of the GMS Program. So far there has been no major research either in Vietnameseor English that addresses this issue. The thesis seeks to fill this gap by examining the empirical process ofregionalisation in three Vietnam’s border towns in the First-Generation GMS Economic Corridor TownDevelopment Project. Employing analytical framework based on relevant International Relations andinterdisciplinary theories, and a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, the thesis finds that the GMSregionalisation is a combination of ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ processes. The thesis commences byhighlighting the significance of the Mekong River to the development of the region. Then various multilateralcooperative schemes are explored to generate a complete picture of regional cooperation. It is concludedthat many multilateral mechanisms with little progress may have negative impacts on the regionalisation inthe GMS. Among 13 schemes in the GMS, GMS Program is considered as one of the most well-knownsubregional cooperation schemes. The GMS Program came to existence just in time to assist the Mekongriparian states to integrate better into the regional and international markets in the context that there werenew developments both at the regional and world’s levels. In the case of Vietnam, the GMS Program hasgiven Hanoi an option to carry on its omni-directional foreign policy and helped it consolidate its existingrelationships with its traditional and neighbouring partners. Notably, regionalisation is occurring in someparts of the country where GMS projects have been implemented. Regionalisation can be best observed ineconomic space where there are intensive interactions among people under various dimensions enabledby favourable policies. Although regionalisation promises to bring new cooperative opportunities in theGMS, regionalisation in the GMS will continue to meet new challenges from growing natural and man-madethreats to the Mekong River. Further, the involvement of outsiders is also a real challenge to the regionbuildingprocess.

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Section: The Gms Programmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regionalisation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): Vietnam in the GMS Cooperation Program

Le Dung

2023

Preprint

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“…BRI is considered to be able to help fill the gap in economic inequality in ASEAN by playing a role as the dominant force in determining the future economic landscape of Southeast Asia (Hong, 2017;Vu, 2014). China can help in the form of investment or production capacity to CLMV through improvements and synergies with the AEC Blueprint 2025 to improve connectivity and sectoral cooperation (Hong, 2016) as well as promote broader regional growth mechanisms and encourage the development of policies oriented towards global value chains.…”

Section: Asean Economic Integration and Clmv Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

CLMV, ASEAN6 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Economically Secure, Politically Insecure

Permana,

Taufan

2022

Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management

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This paper aims to explore the influence of BRI in CLMV countries and its implications for the process of ASEAN economic integration. ASEAN faces an economic development gap between ASEAN6 and the CLMV bloc that can be filled by China through various economic development schemes, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). BRI can be a dilemma at various levels, but it can also be a stimulant to strengthen ASEAN economic integration. The characteristics of the ASEAN region that adheres to open regionalism or hybrid regionalism can be an advantage in economic integration through AEC, where economically, ASEAN member countries can freely determine the pattern of bilateral economic cooperation with virtually any country, but politically, the ASEAN Way principle can determine the pattern of political decision making at the regional level. Without the domination of a country in the region, all member countries will speak on behalf of the region if there is a political decision concerning the region. At this point, the tendency of sub-regionalism within ASEAN can be suppressed while still obtaining economic benefits.

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“…The dominance of Chinese foreign direct investment and official development assistance in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam have resulted in the prevailing trade-offs between economic needs and natural preservation as Chinese investors are "insatiable and voracious for mineral resources and raw materials" while eliminating local livelihoods and natural preservation (Cui 2018, 114). Some regional leaders believe China is "weaponizing" its Mekong dams and economic dominance to gain benefits (Vu 2014;Chow 2017;Chellaney 2019). The political and environmental impacts of Chinese dams and investment in the Greater Mekong Subregion are evident in scientific studies as they are tangible in reality (Mahtani 2020;Ward 2018;Tann 2019).…”

Section: Final Thoughtsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecocide on the Mekong: Downstream Impacts of Chinese Dams and the Growing Response from Citizen Science in the Lower Mekong Delta

Quang¹,

Borton²

2020

Asian Perspective

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In this commentary we discuss the geopolitics over China's Mekong dams to provide an understanding of the challenging downstream impacts of its hydropower dams. When it comes to downstream countries struggling to secure their national water security while sustaining economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing, Beijing's actions reflect a huge mismatch between words and deeds. The relationship between Mekong riparian countries and their giant upstream neighbor is a complicated push-and-pull dynamic in which local voices and biodiversity conservation are often excluded. The growing citizen science-led collective grassroots initiatives in the Lower Mekong provide an opportunity for the downstream governments to broaden their response strategies. By analyzing the impacts of public participation in local environmental decision making and policy arenas, the article provides insights into the role of citizen science in networking science and grassroots movements to oppose ill-conceived projects in constructive and peaceful manners. It concludes with a discussion on how citizen science-led grassroots environmental movements can be translated into participatory diplomacy.

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Between system maker and privileges taker: the role of China in the Greater Mekong Sub-region

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

Regionalisation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): Vietnam in the GMS Cooperation Program

Regionalisation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): Vietnam in the GMS Cooperation Program

CLMV, ASEAN6 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Economically Secure, Politically Insecure

Ecocide on the Mekong: Downstream Impacts of Chinese Dams and the Growing Response from Citizen Science in the Lower Mekong Delta

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