The Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation From The Perspective Of International Public Goods

The Lancang-Mekong river connects China,Myanmar,Lao PDR,Thailand,Cambodia and Vietnam.The Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation(LMWRC)thrives by water,and the LMWRC is one of the five priority cooperation areas of the LancangMekong Cooperation(LMC)mechanism,laying a foundation for transboundary water cooperation of the six countries.Based on the theory and methodology of international public goods,this paper analyzes the non-exclusive and non-competitive nature of transboundary water resources cooperation.The theory of property rights loses the practical significance on the transboundary water issue,and thus explores a new solution path-the four benefits sharing of transboundary river cooperation,focusing on the ecological,economic,political and catalytic benefits generated by river cooperation.Before the inception of the LMC,the Mekong countries have carried out a series of international cooperation concerning water resources.This article sorts out 10 international water treaties signed by the Mekong countries after World War II,of which China participated in 2 of them.The international cooperation mechanisms of the Greater Mekong Sub-region are complicated.This paper focuses on two waterrelated mechanisms,the Mekong River Commission(MRC)and the Lower Mekong Initiative(LWI),to sort out the water policy and political situation before the launch of LMC.As a public good,the Lancang-Mekong river needs to be coordinated and supplied through cooperation in the whole basin to avoid the "tragedy of the commons." This paper explores the differences in natural factor endowments,different socio-economic interests and common water challenges of the six countries.From the modeling of “Water-Energy-Food” yields in the Lancang-Mekong dry season of 2016,it expounds the problem of collective action choices facing China.Finally,this paper proposes strategic suggestions for LMWRC from the dimension of international public goods cooperation.It is of great significance to promote LMWRC,LMC,neighboring diplomacy and the Belt and Road Initiative.