On June 8, 2025, the official Facebook page of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand posted a statement from the embassy spokesperson, who recently responded to media inquiries about reports that levels of heavy metals in Thailand’s Kok, Sai, and other rivers have exceeded safety standards—allegedly due to Chinese mining operations in Myanmar.
The Chinese embassy acknowledged these concerns, stating, “The Chinese side attaches great importance to the incident of heavy metal contamination in tributaries of the Mekong River in Thailand. We have noted recent inspection reports issued by the Thai government and relevant local agencies. China supports enhanced communication and coordination between Thailand and Myanmar, encouraging a scientific, responsible investigation and a resolution through friendly dialogue.”
The spokesperson added that Chinese companies operating abroad are required to abide by local laws and regulations. “China is willing to cooperate closely with Mekong River countries to jointly protect the ecological environment and water quality of the Mekong basin,” the statement read.
This diplomatic response followed a large demonstration held on June 5 by the Kok-Sai-Ruak-Mekong Protection Network in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces. Protesters submitted a letter addressed to President Xi Jinping, highlighting the severe suffering and anxiety of residents in northern Thailand caused by polluted rivers originating in Myanmar’s Shan State—including the Kok, Sai, Ruak, and Mekong rivers. The letter attributes the heavy metal contamination to unregulated mining operations, including gold, manganese, and rare earth mines, allegedly backed by Chinese investors exploiting legal loopholes.
According to the letter, “The Thai Pollution Control Department has continuously tested water quality and found dangerously high levels of heavy metals. Millions of Thai citizens now fear the water they rely on for daily use and agriculture. As the rainy season approaches, people are also worried about floods that could carry toxic sludge into their homes and streets. This unfolding disaster contradicts China’s stated environmental leadership and its ecological civilization policy. We urge President Xi to take decisive action to end these irresponsible investments that are harming neighboring countries.”
Meanwhile, Burmese environmental scholar Win Myo Tu, from George Washington University in the U.S., told Transborder News that while Myanmar has existing mining and environmental laws, these are not enforced in areas controlled by ethnic armed groups, such as the United Wa State Army. “Although Myanmar law requires proper mining licenses and environmental impact assessments, the current problem areas—at the headwaters of the Kok and Sai rivers in eastern Shan State—fall outside the state’s control. There is virtually no enforcement of environmental regulations in these regions,” he said.
Win added that it is critical to regulate the mines responsible for this transboundary pollution, which is now affecting the Mekong River as well. “There is already a regional framework—the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), hosted by China—that should be activated. However, within Myanmar, the situation is beyond regulation. China must step in to control the actions of its companies. Even if these operators claim to hold licenses, those permits are issued by armed groups, not in accordance with Myanmar’s legal system.”
He concluded by calling on China to take responsibility and ensure that its businesses in Myanmar are held accountable for their environmental impact.
See original Thai article https://transbordernews.in.th/home/?p=42893
