China's Mekong River dams held back large amounts of water during a 2019 drought that was devastating for countries further downstream, according to a US study by Eyes on Earth released on April 13, 2020, in collaboration with the Stimson Center Southeast Asia Program.  But on April 21, Beijing said it was “unjustifiable” to blame China for worsening drought in lower reaches of the Mekong, as Chinese officials disputed the findings by citing low rainfall during last year's monsoon season.