The Crossbill News Desk
On Friday (January 3), India conveyed its concerns to China regarding plans for a massive hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River, which flows into Indian territory as the Brahmaputra River.
The project was recently approved by Beijing, according to a report by China’s state news agency, Xinhua.
The Chinese embassy spokesperson, Yu Jin, stated on December 27 that the project, located on the river’s lower reaches, aims to promote low-carbon development and prioritizes ecological protection. However, India has voiced apprehension over the potential downstream impact.
“As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly briefing.
He emphasized the need for transparency and consultation with downstream nations and urged China to ensure that the project does not harm India’s interests.
“These have been reiterating along with the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries following the latest report,” he added.
India pledged to continue monitoring the developments and take necessary steps to protect its interests. The proposed hydropower project is projected to be the world’s largest infrastructure project, with an estimated cost of $137 billion.
India and China previously maintained an institutionalized mechanism to discuss issues related to trans-border rivers. However, these discussions were suspended following the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which began in May 2020 and concluded in December 2024.
The recent special representatives’ meeting in Beijing marked a significant step toward resuming dialogue, including discussions on data-sharing related to trans-border rivers.
According to Indian government records, Tibet has been the site of several hydropower projects over the past decade. The recently announced project is part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan.
Earlier projects include one declared fully operational in 2015 and others initiated under China’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011–2015).
China has repeatedly assured India that its hydropower projects on the Brahmaputra are run-of-the-river projects, which typically do not involve significant water diversion or storage. However, projects involving storage or diversion could potentially impact downstream river flow, heightening concerns for India.
In addition to voicing concerns about the dam, India has formally protested China’s establishment of two new counties in the Hotan Prefecture, parts of which fall within the Aksai Chin region, claimed by India.
“We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area. Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India’s longstanding and consistent position over the sovereignty over the area,” said Jaiswal.
He reiterated that India had lodged a formal protest through diplomatic channels.
India’s stance reflects its ongoing commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity and ensuring equitable access to shared water resources.
The project was recently approved by Beijing, according to a report by China’s state news agency, Xinhua.
The Chinese embassy spokesperson, Yu Jin, stated on December 27 that the project, located on the river’s lower reaches, aims to promote low-carbon development and prioritizes ecological protection. However, India has voiced apprehension over the potential downstream impact.
“As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly briefing.
He emphasized the need for transparency and consultation with downstream nations and urged China to ensure that the project does not harm India’s interests.
“These have been reiterating along with the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries following the latest report,” he added.
India pledged to continue monitoring the developments and take necessary steps to protect its interests. The proposed hydropower project is projected to be the world’s largest infrastructure project, with an estimated cost of $137 billion.
India and China previously maintained an institutionalized mechanism to discuss issues related to trans-border rivers. However, these discussions were suspended following the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which began in May 2020 and concluded in December 2024.
The recent special representatives’ meeting in Beijing marked a significant step toward resuming dialogue, including discussions on data-sharing related to trans-border rivers.
According to Indian government records, Tibet has been the site of several hydropower projects over the past decade. The recently announced project is part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan.
Earlier projects include one declared fully operational in 2015 and others initiated under China’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011–2015).
China has repeatedly assured India that its hydropower projects on the Brahmaputra are run-of-the-river projects, which typically do not involve significant water diversion or storage. However, projects involving storage or diversion could potentially impact downstream river flow, heightening concerns for India.
In addition to voicing concerns about the dam, India has formally protested China’s establishment of two new counties in the Hotan Prefecture, parts of which fall within the Aksai Chin region, claimed by India.
“We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area. Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India’s longstanding and consistent position over the sovereignty over the area,” said Jaiswal.
He reiterated that India had lodged a formal protest through diplomatic channels.
India’s stance reflects its ongoing commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity and ensuring equitable access to shared water resources.
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