China scraps plan to blow up Mekong River islets, says Thai minister
- ‘The blasts aimed at paving the way for big vessels would affect people’s way of life and also fish in the river,’ said Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai
China has agreed to drop a plan to clear rocky outcrops and islets in the upper reaches of the Mekong River over deep concerns from downstream countries, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Friday.
Don said the issue was discussed and agreed during last month’s visit to Bangkok by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who accepted the concerns from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar about potential negative effects of the proposed blasting.
“The blasts aimed at paving the way for big vessels would affect people’s way of life and also fish in the river,” Don said. “We proposed to China that it is unnecessary to blast the islets in the river and our Chinese counterpart accepted with a good understanding.”
Don said that aside from ecological effects, blasting could also change the course of the key river that flows from China toward the South China Sea, passing five Southeast Asian countries on its way – possibly affecting borderlines.
He said there are now better ways to transport products from China into the Mekong countries.
The plan to blast rapids in the upper reaches of the Mekong to allow for the smooth passage of large cargo vessels was approved by concerned countries, including Thailand in December 2016.
But it has been delayed due to the opposition from locals and environment groups.
The Mekong, which also flows through Cambodia and Vietnam, is recognised as Southeast Asia’s main water artery, upon which local residents of the six countries depend on for many things, including fishing, irrigation, transport and tourism.
