The survey, undertaken by the United State Geological Survey's Eyes on Earth podcast, used physical river gauge evidence from the Mekong River Commission, coupled with remote sensing processes, to prove what scientists have long feared - that the ongoing drought in the region is the result of Chinese water management policies. And with Beijing facing questions about its perceived failure to offer full disclosure about the severity of the coronavirus outbreak which has become a global pandemic, there are similar criticisms with respect to its control of water supplies, with an assessment published by US-based think tank the Stimson Centre accusing it of treating the issue as a "state secret".