Asian Policy published a piece penned by the CEF team! Jennifer Turner, Susan Shifflett, and Robert Batten co-authored “China’s Upstream Advantage in the Great Himalayan Watershed” in the 16th issue of the National Bureau of Asian Research’s Asian Policy.
Asian Policy published a piece penned by the CEF team! Jennifer Turner, Susan Shifflett, and Robert Batten co-authored “China’s Upstream Advantage in the Great Himalayan Watershed” in the 16th issue of the National Bureau of Asian Research’s Asian Policy.
The article details how China benefits from the gifts of nature with regards to the Himalayan watershed. It specifically discusses how China’s rising demand for both energy and freshwater are driving dam-building projects that endanger the flow and water quality of rivers feeding the downstream countries of South and Southeast Asia. The article then considers China’s aversion to water-sharing agreements and the frustration it causes to its neighbors. Finally, the essay purposes a carrot and stick method to attempt to encourage China’s policy makers to sustainably develop the upstream rivers.
You can read the whole article in Asia Policy here.
China’s global footprint isn’t just an economic one, it’s an environmental one. From BRI investments in Africa and Asia to its growing presence in Latin America, understanding China’s motivations, who stands to gain - and who stands to lose - is critical to informing smart US foreign policy. Read more
