The role of subnational actors in transboundary small-scale water projects: the case study of Yunnan government's involvement in Laos rural water supply

Abstract

This paper focuses on the practice of small-scale rural water supply projects in the Mekong River Basin, with Yunnan - Laos as a case study, and explores the role of local governments as subnational actors in transboundary water governance. In contrast to extant studies that concentrate on large-scale water infrastructure and national cooperation, this paper takes “small and beautiful” water cooperation as an entry point. Through the analysis of two specific cases, this paper finds that the Yunnan provincial government has built a coalition of local government-led subnational actors through cooperation with SOEs, NGOs, and research institutes, which has enhanced the capacity of local governments to participate in regional governance. The central policy support and regional cooperation platforms, such as LMCs, have been identified as crucial factors. This paper posits that the role of local governments in China is not confined to implementing central government foreign policy. Instead, they function as catalysts for water diplomacy cooperation and as innovators in the field of mechanisms. This study argues that small-scale water supply projects not only provide a de- politicized and people-oriented path of cooperation but also become an important tool for China to use water diplomacy to build soft power. The analysis draws on the experiences of Yunnan province, highlighting the increasing political and economic agency of local governments within China’s regional diplomacy and cross-border governance structures.