메콩강 유역국가들의 상호관계에 대한 역사적 고찰

The Mekong riparian states in Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam - have since a long time perceived the economic potentials of the Mekong River and tried to make use of them. A study on the historical relations between the riparian states will show what kind of historical root the interests of the individual state in the economic potentials of the Mekong River today have and which character the competition between the riparian states for the economic potentials of the river has had. The discussion on the historical relations between the riparian states in Southeast Asia is focused on the following five themes: First, the correlation between the economic potentials of the Mekong River and the formation of the early kingdoms in modern Cambodia in the 1st through the 6th century period. Second, the expansion of Thailand and Vietnam in direction of Cambodia between the late 13th and the mid-19th century. Third, the economic motive of the military expansion of Myanmar to Laos and Thailand and the economic interest of Thailand in the middle basin of the Mekong River in its expansion to Laos between the 16th and the early 19th century. Fourth, the economic interest of France in its colonial expansion to Cochin-china, Cambodia, and Laos between the mid-19th and the early 20th century. Fifth, the interest of Thailand in the Mekong River basin, which was manifested in its struggle to recover the territories in Laos and Cambodia from France in the early 1940's.