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