China’s dam project raises alarm.

• China’s planned dam on the Yarlung Zangbo river in Tibet is a significant concern for India due to potential environmental impact, water spillover, and bilateral relations.

• The Yarlung Zangbo, originating in Tibet, is part of China’s strategy to transition from coal to renewable energy sources, particularly hydroelectric power.

• The dam project aligns with China’s energy transition goals, but its serious implications for India are significant.

• The construction of the dam raises legal issues under international water law, as China and India are not signatories to the UN Watercourses Convention.

• China’s lower riparian states accuse it of using water as a ‘powerful tool’, making India vulnerable to unilateral actions.

• India has expressed concerns about the projects on transboundary rivers, with the expiration of memoranda of understanding on water data sharing between India and China.

• The proposed dam is being constructed in one of the world’s most seismically active regions, posing a significant threat to the stability of the structure.

• The dam would disrupt river ecosystems, alter sediment flow, and threaten biodiversity in the river basin region.

• The dam would also impact Bangladesh, which the Brahmaputra enters from India.

• The issue will affect other lower riparian South Asian states such as Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan.

• The lack of an active regional organization halts South Asia from developing a collective strategy to manage transboundary rivers and conduct negotiations with the upper riparian country.

• Recent India-China diplomatic engagements raise hopes for renewing lapsed MoUs and improving trust through information-sharing on Tibet-origin rivers.