China's Transboundary Water Treaty Practices: A Comparative Study with the United Nations Watercourses Convention

This article explores China’s transboundary
water treaty practice from the perspective of the United
Nations Watercourses Convention (UNWC). It provides
a comparative analysis of China’s bilateral watercourse
agreements with neighbouring countries, highlighting
the evolution of these treaties and their alignment with
the principles advanced in the UNWC. The article
examines the scope, substantive rules, procedural rules,
institutional mechanisms, and dispute settlement
mechanisms China employs in its transboundary water
treaty practice. It also identifies key differences between
China’s approach and the UNWC, such as the treatment
of connected groundwater and transboundary harm, and
highlights areas where the UNWC could provide useful
guidance for China’s treaty practice. The article
concludes by emphasizing the importance of enhancing
substantive and procedural cooperation, creating
effective joint bodies, and developing a peaceful
transboundary water resource management framework
to promote regional leadership and cooperation.