ABSTRACT
China is in a position to wield significant power and influence over the lower riparian states it shares rivers with. Its actions have consequences that are beyond the ecological effects of its dam-building and water diversion projects. At the political, strategic, economic, and societal levels, China's position as the hydro-hegemon of Asia impacts how power is configured in the region. The effects of China's hydro-hegemonic position are beyond the water disputes themselves and are intertwined with the broader relations between China and the other riparian states. Using the Mekong, Brahmaputra, and Ili and Irtysh rivers as case studies, this chapter assesses how China exercises its hydro-hegemonic power and how effective China has been in translating its power into influence.
