China has reaffirmed its plan to build the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, ensuring it won't negatively impact downstream countries like India and Bangladesh. The $137 billion project has undergone extensive scientific scrutiny. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun emphasized its potential benefits for disaster prevention and climate change response. In response, India has urged China to consider downstream interests, with officials stressing the need for transparency. China remains committed to cooperation on disaster relief and clean energy initiatives.
China has reaffirmed its ambitious initiative to construct the largest dam in the world on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, situated near the Indian border. The Chinese government emphasized that the project has undergone extensive scientific evaluation and will not adversely affect downstream nations, including India and Bangladesh.
With an estimated investment of approximately USD 137 billion, the dam will be located in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region, an area known for its seismic activity due to tectonic plate boundaries. Guo Jiakun, the new spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, assured during a recent media briefing that the hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra) has been thoroughly vetted for its ecological, geological, and water resource impacts.
Highlighting the potential benefits, Guo stated, "On the contrary, it will be conducive to downstream disaster prevention and mitigation and response to climate change to a certain extent." This statement came in response to concerns raised by India, which featured prominently in discussions between Indian officials and U.S. National Security Advisor Sullivan during his visit to Delhi.
Sullivan, who is in India ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th president of the U.S., met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to review the evolving India-U.S. strategic partnership over the past four years.
Last month, China officially approved plans for the Yarlung Zangbo dam, which will be constructed at a significant gorge where the Brahmaputra makes a dramatic U-turn before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh and ultimately reaching Bangladesh.
In response to the proposed project, India has urged China to consider the interests of downstream nations. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated, "We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests." He acknowledged that as a lower riparian state with established rights to the river's waters, India has consistently communicated its concerns to China regarding large-scale projects in upstream areas.
Jaiswal emphasized the importance of transparency and collaboration, stating that these sentiments have been conveyed to the Chinese side. He added that "the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra must not be harmed by activities in upstream areas."
In December, another spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, defended the dam project, asserting that it would not negatively impact lower riparian states. She highlighted that safety concerns have been addressed through many years of research, stating, "The project will not negatively affect the lower reaches."
Mao also noted that China is committed to maintaining open communication with downstream countries and enhancing cooperation on disaster prevention and relief efforts for the benefit of communities along the river. She underscored that the hydropower development aims to accelerate clean energy initiatives while addressing climate change and extreme hydrological events.
Comments