Mekong–ROK Cooperation: a perspective from Thailand

Abstract

Relative to other regional powers, the Republic of Korea (ROK) is a latecomer to Mekong multilateralism, given that its 5 + 1 multilateral dialogue initiative—the Mekong–ROK Cooperation (MKC)—was only launched in 2011. Despite the MKC’s substantive progress, China’s launch of the Lancang–Mekong Cooperation in late 2015 has shaken up the regional Mekong order and significantly threatened the MKC’s future. Drawing primarily on archives through a broad lens of political realism, this study appraises the MKC’s prospects in the Mekong’s multilateral politics amid great-power rivalry. The study argues that Mekong nations have expected Korea’s MKC to balance foreign (especially China) influence, partially owing to the uncertain posture of the United States toward regional Mekong multilateralism. Finally, it recommends the ROK to play a more active role in preserving the existing Mekong order through the MKC process. Further, it recommends that Seoul aligns with Washington regarding Mekong affairs.

Keywords:

• Mekong multilatemralism
• Mekong–ROK Cooperation
• MKC
• regional institutional order
• Thailand

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Kan prachum radom samong yutthasat thai to kan damnoen khwamruammue nai krop anu phumphak lumnam khong [Brainstorming meeting on Thailand’s strategy toward cooperation in the Mekong sub-region], October 21, 2014, Folder I1204-440-706-400-5703, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

2 Frederick Kliem, The Geopolitics of the Mekong and a Radical Proposal for ASEAN to Navigate It, (Singapore: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, November 2020), 4–6.

3 Chiew-Ping Hoo, “South Korea and India’s Multi-Layered Pivotal Roles in Indo-Pacific,” in Pivotal States, Global South and India-South Korea Relations, ed. Choong Yong Ahn and Jagannath Panda (Stockholm-Nacka: Institute for Security and Development Policy, 2023), 84–9.

4 MFA, Phumiphak echia tawan-ok kap phonprayot dan khwam mankhong khong thai [East Asia and Thailand’s Security Interests], January 2007, Folder I1304-072-302-340-5001, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

5 Mary Fulbrook, “Why All Historical Accounts Are Inevitably Theoretical, But Some Are Preferable to Others,” Historically Speaking 5, no. 2 (2003): 13.

6 Ibid., 12–15.

7 Kornphanat Tungkeunkunt and Poowin Bunyavejchewin, “(Re-)Narrating the Evolution of the Lancang- Mekong Cooperation: China’s Diplomacy Behind the Scenes,” Strategic Analysis 46, no. 5 (2022): 497.

8 Denis Hew, Study to Realign the AMBDC with the ASEAN Economic Community, Final Report (Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat, February 2009), https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/images/2012/Economic/IAI/Comm%20work/AMBDC%20Realignment%20Study.pdf (accessed October 20, 2023).

9 MFA, Kan prachum ratthamontri tangprathet Mekong-ROK [Mekong–ROK FMM], October 2011 [telegram], Folder I0903-437-302-302-5401, No. 0704/542/2554, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

10 Arnaud Leveau, “The new Korean Asiatism,” in The Asian side of the world: Editorials on Asia and the Pacific 2002–2011, ed. Jean-François Sabouret (Paris: CNRS Éditions, 2012), 193–7.

11 Ibid., 193.

12 MFA, Khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli [Mekong–ROK Cooperation], August 2013, Folder I0704-191-703-401-58-01, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

13 MFA, Phon kan prachum radap athibodi khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli [The Outcome of the Mekong-ROK Senior Officials’ Meeting], May 31, 2011, Folder I1203-705-302-601-5402, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

14 Ibid.

15 Ibid.

16 Ibid.

17 MFA, Kan prachum triam kan fai thai samrap kan prachum ratthamontri tangprathet khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli khrang thi 1 [Preparation meeting for attending the First Mekong–ROK FMM], October 4, 2011, Folder I1203-705-302-601-5402, No. 1203/1762/2554, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

18 MFA, Phon kan prachum radap athibodi khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli.

19 Ibid.

20 MFA, Phon kan prachum radap ratthamontri Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) khrang thi 4 lae Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) khrang thi 1 [Outcomes of the 4th LMI Ministerial Meeting and the 1st FLM Ministerial Meeting], August 2, 2011 [telegram], Folder I1205-710-302-604-5302, No. 0704/721/2554, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

21 MFA, Framework of Outcome Document of the Inaugural Makong-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, 2011, Folder I1203-705-302-601-5402, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

22 MFA, Khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli.

23 An Pich Hatda, “Mekong/MRC-ROK Cooperation, Opportunities and Challenges,” in Outcome Report of the Hybrid Seminar on Mekong–ROK Cooperation (Phnom Penh: Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, 2021), 63–7.

24 MFA, Khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli.

25 MFA, Phumiphak echia tawan-ok kap phonprayot dan khwam mankhong khong thai.

26 MFA, Khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli.

27 MFA, Phon kan prachum khana thamngan Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) khrang thi 1 thi krung phanompen (17-18 minakhom 2554) [Outcome of the 1st LMI Working Group meeting in Phnom Penh (17-18 March 2011)], March 31, 2011 [memorandum], Folder I1205-710-302-604-5301, No. 0704/586/2554, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

28 MFA, Kan lot long khong radap nam nai maenam khong [Lower water level in the Mekong River], 2010, Folder I1304-072-302-340-5001, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

29 MFA, Khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli.

30 MFA, Sarup phon kan khao phop athibodi krom asian khong khana suemuanchon kaoli lae chaonathi krasuang tangprathet kaolitai [Summary of the outcome of the Department of ASEAN Affairs director-general’s meeting with Korean news reporters and MOFA officials], July 5, 2011 [memorandum], Folder I1203-705-302-601-5402, No. 1203/1145/2554, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

31 MFA, Statement by Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand at the 1st Mekong-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, October 28, 2011, Folder I0903-437-302-302-5401, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

32 Xinyuan Dai, “Challenges to the International Institutional Order,” The Chinese Journal of International Politics 13, no. 4 (2020): 489, doi: 10.1093/cjip/poaa018.

33 Ibid.

34 Pongphisoot Busbarat, Poowin Bunyavejchewin, and Thapiporn Suporn, “China and Mekong Regionalism: A Reappraisal of the Formation of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation,” Asian Politics & Policy 13, no. 2 (2021): 193–211.

35 Ibid.

36 MFA, Kan phop harue kap so-o-tho chin rueang kan prachum nai krop khwamruammue mae khong–lan chang (MLC) [Meeting with Chinese Embassy officials about the Mekong–L ancang Cooperation (MLC) meetings], September 30, 2015 [memorandum], Folder I0704-191-703-401-58-02, No. 0704/2080/2558, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

37 Ibid.

38 MFA, Khwamruammue lumnam khong kap satharanarat kaoli.

39 MFA, Kan harue rawang ahan klangwan doi ek-akkhraratchathut chin kan harue rawang ahan klangwan doi ek-akkhraratchathut chin pracham prathet thai pen chaophap [A lunch discussion hosted by China’s ambassador to Thailand], December 3, 2015 [declassified document], Folder I0704-191-302-302-58-01, No. 0704/2511/2558, MFA Archives and Library Division, Bangkok.

40 Poowin Bunyavejchewin, “Is the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation a ‘New’ Hope for Water Resources Management in the Mekong?,” Mekong Connect 1, no. 1 (2019): 11.

41 Panyarak Poolthup, “Remarks H.E. Panyarak Poolthup, Ambassador of Thailand to Cambodia,” in Outcome Report of the Hybrid Seminar on Mekong–ROK Cooperation (Phnom Penh: Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, 2021), 53–54.

42 MFA, “The Mekong-Republic of Korea (Mekong-ROK) Senior Officials’ Meeting 2023 in Seoul,” news release, May 31, 2023, https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/mekong-roksom2023-2?page=5d5bd3da15e39c306002aaf9 (accessed October 20, 2023).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Korea Foundation’s 2023 Support for Policy-Oriented Research Program; and Thammasat University Research Unit in History and International Politics (Grant No. 5/2566).