Abstract:
Title: “Singapore Kunming Railway Links (SKRL) Project: ASEAN’s Efforts in
Addressing the Mekong River Crisis (2009-2015)”
The Mekong River has become such importance for Southeast Asia
people, which the ASEAN as the intergovernmental organization in Southeast
Asia referring Mekong as a river that could fulfill more than 70 million people
live relying on the river for livelihood needs, agriculture, energy, transportation
and commerce. However the river is increasingly under threat by the construction
of the huge hydropower projects and the massive trade route of navigable project
which required to dynamiting some parts of the Mekong territory to enable the
access way for huge and tonnes vessels. Given the importance of Mekong River,
the ASEAN has been working to ensure the stability of the Mekong River
resources and avert the environmental threats through Singapore-Kunming Rail
Links project (SKRL) as an ASEAN’s way in averting the Mekong River Crisis.
This thesis aimed to further elaborate how ASEAN engaged all riparian countries,
especially China. In this thesis, the researcher will use qualitative research by
using Liberal Institutionalism, and Regionalism theory to support the analyses on
how the cooperation will affect ASEAN in achieving one collective goal (shared
interest with all entities). The way this project is realized shows that ASEAN has
created the micro-macro regionalism behavior which it has successfully engaged
China into a regional cooperation. This project will affect not only in averting the
environmental crisis but also realizing the ASEAN Connectivity as a regional
power that Mekong River has within Southeast Asia region.
