ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
International relations

US and China vie to corral ASEAN with Mekong and COVID support

Washington announces $153m package for basin amid tensions with Beijing

The Mekong river divides Thailand and Laos as seen from Nong Khai, Thailand. The five countries that the river runs through find themselves the beneficiaries of U.S. and Chinese largesse.   © Reuters

SINGAPORE/HANOI -- The U.S. and China, their differences widening over the South China Sea and security issues, are trying to win more allies in Southeast Asia.

On Friday, the U.S. and the five Mekong nations -- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- held the first Mekong-U.S. Partnership Ministerial Meeting, where Stephen Biegun, U.S. deputy secretary of state, announced $153 million for the region.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more