A view of the canal at Prek Takoe village eastern side of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, July 30, 2024(AP Photo)
The Mekong River serves as a crucial resource for millions across six countries, supporting the world's largest inland fishery and nourishing Vietnam's fertile Mekong Delta, a vital hub for rice production. However, Cambodia's plan to construct a large canal linking the Mekong to the Gulf of Thailand has sparked fears of environmental damage. The $1.7 billion Funan Techo canal, financed with Chinese assistance, aims to allow Cambodia to export directly from its factories without depending on Vietnam.
During the project’s launch on August 5, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that the canal would enhance national development, regardless of the cost. It is expected to lower transportation expenses to Cambodia’s Sihanoukville port, boosting Cambodia’s economy and global standing. However, these promises come with risks to the river’s ecosystem.
The Mekong, which originates in China and flows through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, is critical for regional agriculture and fishing. Seasonal flooding makes Vietnam’s Mekong Delta one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. But the river's flow has already been disrupted by upstream dams, and rising sea levels threaten the delta. Brian Eyler of the Stimson Center warns that the canal's high embankments will block silt-rich floodwaters from reaching Vietnam, worsening droughts and harming both Vietnam's rice fields and Cambodia’s floodplains.
This is a significant concern for Vietnam, where agriculture accounts for 12% of the economy. The Mekong Delta plays a key role in Vietnam's goal to produce low-emission rice on 1 million hectares of farmland by 2030. Water from the Mekong is crucial for more than 100 million Vietnamese and global food security, says Nguyen Van Nhut, a rice export company director. The diminishing silt flow could increase salinity in the delta, further harming agriculture.
Cambodia claims the canal will connect to the Bassac River, a tributary of the Mekong, and will not affect the main river’s flow. However, environmentalists argue that the Bassac itself relies entirely on the Mekong, casting doubt on Cambodia’s assurances. Although Cambodian officials have downplayed the potential environmental impacts, concerns remain about the project’s broader consequences.
Despite the risks, Cambodia insists on moving forward with the canal, which some view as an attempt to bolster political support for Prime Minister Hun Manet. Meanwhile, Vietnam has chosen to address the issue quietly, urging Cambodia to consider the environmental effects and cooperate with Mekong nations.
For people like Sok Koeun, 57, who may lose her home to the canal, the future is uncertain. She has yet to receive any compensation or relocation plan and wonders what lies ahead.
