Analysis On Water Diplomacy Of "Lancang - Mekong River" In China

China possesses many trans-boundary rivers. With global water issue becoming prominent, the cooperation regarding the protection and development of these rivers would become one of the basic themes for China’s diplomacy. Thus, the research over the theory and practice on China’s Water Diplomacy is imperative. Among all the trans-boundary rivers in China, the Lancang-Mekong River runs through the Indo-China Peninsula, playing an important role in China’s neighborhood diplomacy.With water diplomacy cooperation centered on that area intensified these years, the research over the issue bears much significance.This paper attempts to give a basic definition over water diplomacy from three dimensions, namely the actor, the channel, and the subject of water diplomacy. It believes that the actor of water diplomacy is the government of each country, and coordination among different government sectors, between central and regional government is necessary. The channel of water diplomacy includes bilateral ones and multilateral ones. The subjects of water diplomacy involve water issues which are directly linked to the management of trans-boundary rivers, and also social, economic issues. Water diplomacy may exert positive influence on the improvement of relationship among countries. Meanwhile, it may also face with difficulties in terms of interests coordination among countries.This paper takes China’s water diplomacy on the Mekong-Lancang River as an example and gives in-depth analysis. In terms of the actors, multiple government departments such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Water Resources, and local government in Yunnan Province and Guangxi Province all have play active roles in the course of water diplomacy. In terms of the channels,China not only focuses on the development of bilateral channel, but also enhances its participation in the establishment and development of international organizations such as Mekong River Commission, Greater Mekong Subregion and Lancang-MekongCooperation. In terms of the subject, China put emphasis on the comprehensive management of Lancang-Mekong River, water-related security mechanism as well as the improvement of social and economic development alongside the river.This paper further analyzes the challenges faced by China’s Water diplomacy.Internally, there is a lack of coordination among actors, a lack of planning on the development of channels and a lack of balance between the development of water-related issues and social economic issues. Externally, the establishment of other water diplomacy mechanisms, negative environment against China’s diplomatic efforts, and the participation of NGOs have all posed serious threats on China’s Water diplomacy. Lastly, this paper believes that China’s water diplomacy in the Lancang-Mekong River can further integrate with the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s strategic planning on neighborhood diplomacy, improve its mechanism instruction and focus on the building and the creation and share of mutual interests with related countries.