China, Japan, and Korea in Laos’ Hydro Power Business Ventures: The Hydro-Hegemon Prevails

Michelle R. Palumbarit

Abstract

The Mekong region has witnessed ‘old’ and ‘new’ players in the development of the Mekong river basin since the conclusion of the Cold War. Of specific interest is the participation of the three Northeast Asian countries, China, Japan, and South Korea. Two interesting questions come into play and shall be answered in this exploratory research note. First, why and how do China, Japan and Korea participate in the hydro power projects in Laos? Second, what are the implications of their participation in the geo-politics in the Mekong region? This paper contends that the three countries are not only taking advantage of the economic benefits they can derive from developing Laos but also carving their own respective geopolitical influence in the country. Of the three, sources reveal that China exerts its own dominance in the Mekong region as the hydro-hegemon by ‘overpowering’ its challengers through its overwhelming hydropower projects in the country and through non-cooperation with Japan and Korea.

Keywords

hydro-hegemon, hydropower, Laos, Mekong river