Beijing sets sights on mighty Mekong as passage to South China Sea
Ninety-seven kilometers of rocks in Thai waters stand between Beijing and dominance over the Mekong, a mighty river that feeds millions as it threads south from the Tibetan Plateau through five countries before emptying into the South China Sea.
China has long wanted to dredge the riverbed in northern Thailand to open passage for massive cargo ships — and potentially military vessels.
Ultimately, a link could be carved from Yunnan province thousands of kilometers south through the Mekong countries of Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The river enters the ocean in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and is the centerpiece of Beijing’s trade and security strategy with its neighbors.
Aidan Jones
