SINGAPORE KUNMING RAILWAY LINKS (SKRL) PROJECT: ASEAN’S WAY TO AVERT THE MEKONG RIVER CRISIS (2009-2015)

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.