India flags concern over China’s plan for world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra, objects to new counties
| 2025-01-04
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addresses the media in New Delhi on January 3, 2025.
The river flows from Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung-Tsangpo, into India and Bangladesh
India has expressed its concern over China’s plan to construct the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra, which is known as Yarlung-Tsangpo River in Tibet. India has consistently expressed its views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday ((January 3, 2025).
China has been urged to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas, he said in response to a question at the weekly media briefing.
“We have seen the information released by Xinhua on 25th December 2024 regarding a hydropower project on the Yarlung-Tsangpo River in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 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,” Jaiswal stated.
According to the MEA Spokesperson, these concerns have been reiterated alongwith the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries following the latest report. “The Chinese side has been urged to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas,” he said.
India will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect its interests, he added.
According to the Xinhua report, China has approved plans to build the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the lower reaches of Yarlung-Tsangpo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra. The river flows from the Tibet Autonomous Region of China into India and Bangladesh. Once constructed, it will be bigger than the Three Gorges Dam, which is the world’s largest at the moment.
The MEA Spokesperson also responded to a question on China announcing new counties in the Aksai Chin region, saying India had never accepted the “illegal occupation” of its territory in this area.
“We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India's Union Territory of Ladakh. We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian Territory in this area,” Jaiswal stated.
Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India's long-standing and consistent position regarding our sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China's illegal and forcible occupation of the same, he said. “We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels on this matter,” the MEA Spokesperson added.
China has been urged to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas, he said in response to a question at the weekly media briefing.
“We have seen the information released by Xinhua on 25th December 2024 regarding a hydropower project on the Yarlung-Tsangpo River in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 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,” Jaiswal stated.
According to the MEA Spokesperson, these concerns have been reiterated alongwith the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries following the latest report. “The Chinese side has been urged to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas,” he said.
India will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect its interests, he added.
According to the Xinhua report, China has approved plans to build the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the lower reaches of Yarlung-Tsangpo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra. The river flows from the Tibet Autonomous Region of China into India and Bangladesh. Once constructed, it will be bigger than the Three Gorges Dam, which is the world’s largest at the moment.
The MEA Spokesperson also responded to a question on China announcing new counties in the Aksai Chin region, saying India had never accepted the “illegal occupation” of its territory in this area.
“We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India's Union Territory of Ladakh. We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian Territory in this area,” Jaiswal stated.
Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India's long-standing and consistent position regarding our sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China's illegal and forcible occupation of the same, he said. “We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels on this matter,” the MEA Spokesperson added.
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