China’s Hydropower Development in the Mekong Basin

This book highlights the connections and consequences of China’s regional foreign relations and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a key part of which is China’s involvement in hydropower projects. The connective nature of hydropower infrastructure illustrates the integrative component of China’s dam development in the Mekong and establishes the foundation for the creation of a region. Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam have all played a role in absorbing the economic benefits of Chinese hydropower development in the Mekong basin either directly or indirectly. Rather than portraying the BRI as a coercive tool, the book shows recipient states have agency in choosing to participate. Analyzing the BRI from the bottom up, this book creates frameworks from hydro-politics, Chinese politics, environmental politics, regional politics, and international relations.