Water

The battles of yesterday were fought over land; those of today are over energy. But the battles of tomorrow may be over water. Nowhere is that danger greater than in water-distressed Asia. Water stress is set to become Asia’s defining crisis, creating obstacles to continued rapid economic growth, stoking interstate tensions over shared resources, exacerbating long-time territorial disputes, and imposing further hardships on the poor. Asia is home to many of the world’s great rivers and lakes, but its huge population and exploding economic demands make it the most water-scarce continent on a per capita basis. The potential for conflict is further underscored by China’s status as the source of transboundary river flows to the largest number of countries, as it declines to enter into water-sharing or cooperative treaties with these states. Water: Asia’s New Battleground is a pioneering study of Asia’s murky water politics and the relationships between fresh water, peace and security. Brahma Chellaney highlights the security implications of resource-linked territorial disputes, and proposes real strategies to avoid conflict.