Yang, Fangyi and Zhou Jiading (2013). Why has water-rich Yunnan become a drought hotspot? China dialogue, 29 April. (Accessed 23 May 2013). [English version]

杨方义, 周嘉鼎 (2013). 云南为什么缺水？中外对话, 4月 29日. (Accessed 23 May 2013). [中文版本]

Yunnan’s drought continues. During China’s annual parliamentary session in March, the deputy party secretary of the south-west Chinese province, Qiu He, blamed spring floodwaters that flow through Yunnan and on into other countries for the water shortages.
He proposed a system of reservoirs, dams and tanks to store that water, which could then be distributed more evenly over time and between locations. But many complained that Chinese officials were trying to pass their own troubles on to others.
Historically, Yunnan hasn’t been known for suffering droughts. Today, however, it is famous for it.
The winter and spring droughts that started in 2009 continue to plague China’s south-west, harming the region’s vulnerable economy – particularly agriculture and forestry. Cash crops such as sugar cane and coffee have been lost, and the crisis is restricting Yunnan’s economic growth.

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云南继续大旱。2013年3月，云南省委副书记仇和在全国两会期间表示：云南不是没有水，且水资源充沛，但三江春水向南流，多流到国外了。并 建议要大中小水库、坝塘、水窖一起蓄水，提高水资源时间和空间分布不均衡的解决能力。此语引发争议，很多人认为这是一些中国官员“以邻为壑”心态的体现。
历史上，云南绝不是一个以旱灾著称的地方，然而今天它成了中国著名的旱地。

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Related

Watts, Elleka (2013) Water scarcity and social equality in China. China power. A new world order, 23 May 2013. (Accessed 23 May 2013).

Monique Abud

Centre d'études sur la Chine moderne et contemporaine, EHESS, Paris, France

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