CSCAP MEMORANDUM NO. 23

Enhancing Water Security in the Asia Pacific

A Memorandum from theCouncil for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
January 2014

Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
Memorandum No. 23
Enhancing Water Security in the Asia PacificJanuary 2014
Introduction
Water security, which involves the sustainable use and protection of watersystems, the protection against floods and droughts, the sustainable
development of water resources, and the safeguarding access to water functions
and services for humans and the environment, is increasingly becoming a global
concern, not an issue of any particular region. Fast population growth, increased
demand of water and agricultural production, urbanization, and climate change
has impacts on water resources management. As the world’s population marked
7 billion last year, more food, water and energy will be needed to sustain
societies that are rapidly becoming more urbanized and prosperous. The
emerging issue of water-food-energy and climate nexus will have key effect onwater security. Water security is also an issue for not only states but also nonstate actors, including people, communities, NGOs, and internationalorganizations. In addressing challenges posed to water security, especially inwater resources management, all the relevant stakeholders, be they states or
non-states, need to engage in concerted efforts for equitable use of resourcesand effective and efficient management. Given its transnational nature, moreover,concerted efforts and actions may call on the stakeholders to go beyond some of
the traditional state practices for managing water resources.
The Asia and Pacific is the largest and fastest growing region in the world. It has
60% of global population, 27% of global land and only 35% of available global
water resources. Mainland South East Asia is still rich in water resources. The
agricultural sector is the major consumer in this region, followed by industrial
sector and domestic sector. However, several emerging risk factors are causing
the dramatic change in the region’s water situation, heightening the potential riskof inter-state competition and frictions over water resources. Regional
cooperation on water security needs to be strengthened due to inadequate legal
and institutional framework. International rivers in the region are also importantfor navigation, which has a role in connecting regional communities throughincreasing their trade relationship. The sharing of navigation information isessential for potential economic connectivity.

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Risk Factors and Approaches to Mitigating the Risks
As demand for water resources continue to rises rapidly, poor usage andmismanagement of water resources can lead to wider regional security
implications and affect the stability of the whole region. Other non-man madecauses which could severely affect water security also have the potential ofcausing severe water security risks. The most potential threats and risks are from:a) Man-made causes: Growth of irrigation and storage of river water by dams, reservoir etc.
and other man-made structures without factoring in long term
environment calculations.
 Increasing pollution of surface and underground water due toincreasing use of fertilisers for agriculture, increasing industrialisation
and untreated waste water.
 Water scarcity and changing of water pattern due to mismanagementof water storage and usage.
 Increase in water usage due to population growth and demographicchanges.
 Increase in demand for energy with the accompanying hydropowerdevelopment.
 Forced large scale migration due to changing environmentalconditions.
 Poor regards to and maintenance of biodiversity and ecologicalbalance.
 Ecological and environmental crimes, and terrorisms.
b) Non man-made causes:
 Climate change, including higher frequency and severity of drought,
flood, and severe weather events
 Sea level rise which threaten the quality and quantity of water,
adversely affecting economic growth and poverty reduction efforts.
 Earth quake and other natural disaster with potential implications on
man-made structures such as dams, reservoirs.
Regional and international cooperation is the only way to address long term
regional water security needs. A balance between national development andinterests in relation to regional needs and sustainability needs to be met. Since
water is a multidimensional and complex issue, regional water security needs tobe addressed on a basis of priority and vulnerability. Stakeholders should beaware of how to make good use of and how to preserve water resources in an
efficient manner. Cooperation and negotiation among these different

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stakeholders are keys for the sustainable use of water resources and leadershipis desperately needed
In a wider context, securing water resources is also of great importance toregional security, for disputes - based on the belief that water resources are notbeing exploited in sustainable and fair manners by user states - could harm
friendly and cooperative relations between and among countries in the region. At
the same time, effective management of, and satisfactory solutions to, thesedisputes could consolidate mutual confidence and trust, boost bilateral andregional cooperation, and facilitate the performance of regional mechanisms andregimes designed to promote cooperation for the sustainable development ofwater resources in the region.
Since water resources security is directly linked to food and human security as
well as climate change, water security can have broader regional security
implications. For example, as the biggest rice exporters are from the mainland
Southeast Asia, crop failures in the region also means insufficiency of rice inmuch of Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Therefore, wider regional and interregional cooperation on water security is necessary to ensure the overall security
environment of the whole region.
Recommendations
Governments in the Asia Pacific should take urgent steps to build up regional
cooperation on water security. In doing so, the following principles need to bemet: Governments subscribe to the principles of international law on water
usage and management, such as equal sharing, freedom of navigation,and no harm to other riparians, etc.
 Governments adopt a holistic, multi-sectored and integrated approach withregards to a river basin system.
 Solutions to water security address both the “demand” side as well as the“supply” side.
 Governments adopt preventive diplomacy measures in order to prevent
possible water disputes.
Possible policy directions:
Promoting Inter-regional cooperation: Since cooperation on water security inmany parts of Asia- Pacific still fall behind other regions, inter-regional
cooperation would help promote regional cooperation, and contribute to global
efforts in tackling worldwide water security:3 Cooperation with other international mechanisms should also be promoted
to advance the exchange of experience among regions and facilitate thesharing of information and best practices about water management.
 Experiences in disputes and cooperation between and among countries in
the region should also be shared with other regions where similar
problems related to water resources security have been detected. Interregional exchange of personnel should be encouraged and expanded.
 Better coordination among various donors to regional cooperation toensure effectiveness and efficiency in resources management;
Enhancing Regulatory and Institutional Frameworks: Water security should be effectively addressed by regional security
institutions, such as ASEAN, especially in its process of building a peopleoriented Community.
 The active participation of all riparian countries in the basin wide
agreements and management system, such as the Mekong River
Commission, will enhance the efficient usage and management of thewater. Therefore, all riparian countries should consider to become full
members of such agreements and management system.
 Effectiveness and efficiency of regional institutions addressing water
security issues should be enhanced, for example, if a framework forensuring water security in the Mekong region could be constructed andimplemented, this framework could be exported into other water bodies.
 All governments should consider joining the United Nations Convention on
non-navigation uses of international waterways (1997).
Engaging and Empowering the People: Traditionally, governments of basincountries have been regarded as the sole actors in managing international riversand lakes. However, participation of the people in basin countries through good
governance is essential for rational management of the international waterbodies. It is in particular the case in the field of environment, for people in thebasin are in many cases most impacted by environmental changes, both in termsof natural and human environment. The Espoo Convention (1991), for example,
requires notification by the government to people and participation of the people,
in carrying out transboundary environmental impact assessment.
 Mechanisms should be established, both within countries and in the region,
so that the voice of people in the basin should be properly reflected inmanaging international rivers and lakes.

4 Allow for public participation for good water resource management. In
certain cases, consider using Public-Private Partnership as a means torealize related best practices; Generate public support for national andregional water policies.
 Promotion of a regional educational network in water security.
Enhancing Transparency: Principles of exchange of information, priorconsultation and prior notification, are keys to shape relations among riparianstates. Sharing knowledge and information on water resource management has
the utmost importance as an effort to better understand shared resources andstrengthen cooperation between upstream and downstream countries. Sharing
information, data and consultation help reduce misperception, mistrust andfacilitate negotiations.
 The usage and management of important cross-border waterways should
be made transparent to all riparian countries.
 Mechanism and frameworks for regional cooperation and data sharing withregards to the usage and management of water resources should beestablished.
 Enhancing technical capacity for the relevant authorities to enhanceaccurate and un-biased data collection and sharing; Affected stakeholders should be informed and engaged in decision making
processes.
 Education and the role of the media should be promoted to raise publicawareness.
A Code of Conduct on Water Security
 It is desirable for regional countries to work cooperatively towards a codeof conduct on water resources management in international rivers. Existing
institutional mechanisms such as river basin organization (e.g. MekongRiver Commission) should be fully involved in this endeavor. Experiences
accumulated and lessons learned by such organizations should beconsidered in developing the code of conduct. Compatibility with existing
regulatory frameworks, like the Espoo Convention, should be maintained,
so that the code of conduct should be internationally acceptable.

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ABOUT CSCAP
CSCAP is a non-governmental (second track) process for dialogue on security
issues in the Asia Pacific. Membership in CSCAP is on an institutional basis andconsists of Member Committees. Current membership comprises Australia,
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, China, the EU, India, Indonesia, Japan,
the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia,Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
and the USA.
The functions of CSCAP are as follows:a. to provide an informal mechanism by which political and security issues
can be discussed by scholars, officials, and others in their private
capacities;
b. to encourage the participants of such individuals from countries andterritories in the Asia Pacific on the basis of the principle of inclusiveness;c. to organise various working groups to address security issues andchallenges facing the region;d. to provide policy recommendations to various intergovernmental bodies onpolitical-security issues;e. to convene regional and international meetings and other cooperative
activities for the purpose of discussing political-security issues;
f. to establish linkages with institutions and organisations in other parts of theworld to exchange information, insights and experiences in the area ofregional political-security cooperation; andg. to produce and disseminate publications relevant to the other purposes ofthe organisation.
Study Groups are the primary mechanism for CSCAP activity. As of January
2014, there were four CSCAP Study Groups. These are concerned with: (i)Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Asia Pacific.
(ii) Principles for Good Order at Sea; (iii) Regional Security Architecture; and (iv)
Preventive Diplomacy.
This memorandum was produced by the CSCAP Study Group on Water
Resources Security and was approved by the out of session CSCAP Steering
Committee Meeting via electronic consultation on 17 December 2013.
Further information on CSCAP can be obtained from the CSCAP website atwww.cscap.org or by contacting the CSCAP Secretariat:

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CSCAP Secretariat
c/o ISIS Malaysia
1 Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin
PO Box 12424
50778 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
T: +603-2693 9366 Ext 125
F: +603-2693 9375
E: cscap@isis.org.my7CSCAP Memoranda
CSCAP Memoranda are the outcome of the work of Study Groups approved by theSteering Committee and submitted for consideration by the ASEAN Regional Forumand other bodies.
 Memorandum No.22 – Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Author: Study Group on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass
Destruction in the Asia PacificDate published: September 2012
 Memorandum No.21 – Implications of Naval Enhancement in the Asia PacificAuthor: Study Group on Naval Enhancement in the Asia PacificDate published: August 2012
 Memorandum No.20 – Ensuring A Safer Cyber Security Environment
Author: Study Group on Cyber Security
Date published: May 2012
 Memorandum No.19 – Reduction and Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Author: Study Group on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass
Destruction in the Asia PacificDate published: February 2012
 Memorandum No.18 – Implementing the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP)
Author: Study Group on the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP)
Date published: September 2011
 Memorandum No.17 – Promoting the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy
Author: Study Group on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass
Destruction in the Asia PacificDate published: June 2011
 Memorandum No.16 – Safety and Security of Offshore Oil and Gas Installations
Author: Study Group on Safety and Security of Offshore Oil and Gas Installations
Date published: January 2011
 Memorandum No.15 – The Security Implications of Climate Change
Author: Study Group on the Security Implications of Climate Change
Date published: July 2010
 Memorandum No.14 – Guidelines for Managing Trade of Strategic Goods
Author: Export Controls Experts Group (XCXG)
Date published: March 20098 Memorandum No.13 – Guidelines for Maritime Cooperation in Enclosed and SemiEnclosed Seas and Similar Sea Areas of the Asia PacificAuthor: Study Group on Facilitating Maritime Security Cooperation in the Asia
Pacific
Date published: June 2008
 Memorandum No.12 – Maritime Knowledge and Awareness: Basic Foundations ofMaritime SecurityAuthor: Study Group on Facilitating Maritime Security Cooperation in the Asia
Pacific
Date published: December 2007
 Memorandum No.11 – Human Trafficking
Author: Study Group on Human Trafficking
Date published: June 2007
 Memorandum No.10 – Enhancing Efforts to Address Factors Driving International
TerrorismAuthor: Study Group on Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Campaign Against
International Terrorism with Specific Reference to the Asia Pacific Region
Date published: December 2005
 Memorandum No.9 – Trafficking of Firearms in the Asia Pacific Region
Author: Working Group on Transnational Crime
Date published: May 2004
 Memorandum No.8 – The Weakest Link? Seaborne Trade and the Maritime
Regime in the Asia PacificAuthor: Working Group on Maritime Cooperation
Date published: April 2004
 Memorandum No.7 – The Relationship Between Terrorism and Transnational
CrimeAuthor: Working Group on Transnational Crime
Date published: July 2003
 Memorandum No.6 – The Practice of the Law of the Sea in the Asia PacificAuthor: Working Group on Maritime Cooperation
Date published: December 2002
 Memorandum No.5 – Cooperation for Law and Order at Sea
Author: Working Group on Maritime Cooperation
Date published: February 2001

9 Memorandum No.4 – Guidelines for Regional Maritime Cooperation
Author: Working Group on Maritime Cooperation
Date published: December 1997
 Memorandum No.3 – The Concepts of Comprehensive Security and Cooperative
SecurityAuthor: Working Group on Comprehensive and Cooperative Security
Date published: December 1995
 Memorandum No.2 – Asia Pacific Confidence and Security Building Measures
Author: Working Group on Confidence and Security Building Measures
Date published: June 1995
 Memorandum No.1 – The Security of the Asia Pacific Region
Author: CSCAP
Date published: April 1994

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