As an intergovernmental organization, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) has failed to create among its member countries a legally-blinding mechanism to protect the shared interests over utilizing the Mekong’s water resource. With Tillerson now at the helm of State Department, and wanting to broadly demonstrate to China that America is not politically impotent like the Mekong River Commission, now’s the ideal time to step up soft diplomacy to help China’s downstream neighbors, like Cambodia and Vietnam. While Washington recognizes that there’s a lack of any legal “code of conduct” and sanctions to deal with violations of the 1995 Mekong Agreement, the mere announcement of America’s renewed interest and presence in the delta through expanded USAID projects may address China’s efforts to elude environmental “run-of-the river” practices. This move offers a strong symbolic hand to China, unlikely to lead to any diplomatic or military showdowns with Beijing.