China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have commenced their 162nd joint patrol operation along the Mekong River, underscoring sustained multilateral cooperation to safeguard one of Southeast Asia’s most vital waterways.

The Mekong patrol mission was formally launched on February 10 when three Chinese law-enforcement vessels departed from the Jingha police wharf in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, and were joined by Lao and Myanmar patrol boats setting out from Mengmo in Laos and Wanbang in Myanmar, respectively, to convene in designated waters for coordinated action.

The joint flotilla’s operational mandate includes coordinated land-and-water inspections, public information efforts, and intensified actions to address various forms of cross-border illegal activities that could undermine security and stability in the river basin.

Before the deployment, senior commanders from the four participating countries held a joint meeting in Jinghong to discuss the implications of the approaching Lunar New Year and an anticipated busy shipping season, and they reached consensus on deepening law-enforcement cooperation to ensure safe navigation and stability on the Mekong.

A joint command centre has been established aboard one of China’s patrol vessels to facilitate integrated direction of the operation.

During the course of the patrol, officials will also convene an information-exchange meeting in Houayxay, Laos, to assess current security conditions and explore concrete measures for strengthening basin security governance.

The Mekong River — known as the Lancang in China — serves as a crucial conduit for commerce, transportation and livelihoods in the region, and the long-running patrol initiative, which began in 2011 in response to transnational crime and security concerns, reflects the four nations’ commitment to collaborative governance of waterway security and regional stability.