Water Diplomacy: Australia's Growing Middle Power Role in the Mekong Subregion

For the past two decades, Australia has worked closely with its Mekong partners in promoting equitable and sustainable water resources management. Such assistance is critical as the Lower Mekong countries have been grappling with water resource scarcity and ecological hazards caused by climate change and unsustainable hydropower development. We argue that this behaviour on the part of Australia is a form of niche diplomacy – concentrating resources to address one specific international issue that yields worthy returns. Accordingly, two factors, namely (1) Australia’s unique expertise in sustainable water management and (2) its strategic interests in Southeast Asia, precipitated Australia’s engagement with the Mekong countries in water security. To enhance the effectiveness of its diplomatic activism in this field, Australia should encourage the Mekong countries to pursue non-hydro renewable energy, synergise its efforts with other major powers, and facilitate water policy dialogue between China and the Lower Mekong countries.