China has approved the construction of the world’s largest dam on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) in Tibet, close to the Indian border. Estimated at $137 billion, this project raises strategic and environmental concerns for India and Bangladesh. The massive hydropower dam, located at a tectonic boundary prone to earthquakes, has been touted as safe by Chinese authorities, who emphasize ecological protection and advanced engineering techniques.
India’s Concerns: The dam could empower China to control water flow and potentially flood border areas during hostilities.
India’s Response: India is constructing its own dam on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh to counter potential Chinese control.
Data Sharing Framework: India and China established the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 for trans-border river discussions. China provides India with hydrological data during flood seasons, reaffirmed during the December 18 meeting between India’s NSA Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
