China’s Super Dam on the Brahmaputra

Introduction

China’s plan to construct a colossal hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River—known as the Brahmaputra in India—has raised significant concerns across South Asia. Referred to as the “Super Dam,” this project aims to become the world’s most powerful hydroelectric facility, with a potential generation capacity of 60 gigawatts (GW), surpassing the Three Gorges Dam. Located near the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, just before the river enters Arunachal Pradesh in India, the project is a key component of Beijing’s long-term hydro-strategic vision. However, this ambition carries significant geopolitical, ecological, and security implications for India—a lower riparian state.

The Super Dam: An Overview

• Proposed Location: Medog County, Tibet Autonomous Region, near the Great Bend.
• River: Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra downstream).
• Planned Capacity: Estimated at 60 GW, potentially the largest in the world.
• Purpose: Renewable energy generation, water management, regional development.
• Status: Included in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025); feasibility studies ongoing.

Strategic Importance for China

• Energy Transition: Aligns with China’s push for carbon neutrality by 2060 and diversification of its energy portfolio.
• Tibet’s Development: Part of China’s broader push to integrate Tibet into national infrastructure and economic frameworks.
• Water Security: Enhances China’s capacity to manage and manipulate upstream water resources.
• Control of Headwaters: Strengthens China’s ability to regulate transboundary river flows, a form of strategic leverage.

Implications for India

1. Hydrological and Agricultural Risks

India is highly dependent on the Brahmaputra River for agriculture, drinking water, and industry—especially in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. A super dam upstream could alter seasonal flows, affect irrigation patterns, reduce sediment flow vital for fertile floodplains, and increase the risk of flash floods or water withholding during dry seasons.

2. Strategic and Security Concerns

The dam’s proximity to the Sino-Indian border, in a region where the two countries have clashed militarily, adds a layer of geopolitical complexity. In times of conflict, the dam could hypothetically be used to release excess water, disrupting downstream populations or military logistics.

3. Diplomatic Challenges

China has not signed any legally binding water-sharing treaty with India on transboundary rivers. While it does share some hydrological data, it has been accused of withholding information during crucial periods. India fears that the dam could be used as a hydro-diplomatic bargaining tool in future negotiations or standoffs.(Time)

4. Environmental Fragility

The Eastern Himalayas are a seismically active zone. A dam of such scale could exacerbate geological instability. The region is home to biodiverse ecosystems and endangered species—many of which may be displaced or wiped out by the project. Any alteration in water flow could affect the Sundarbans delta, shared by India and Bangladesh, through cumulative downstream effects.

India’s Response and Countermeasures

India has raised concerns through diplomatic channels and multilateral forums. It is reportedly planning a dam on the Siang River (a major Brahmaputra tributary in Arunachal Pradesh) as a strategic counter. Additionally, India is enhancing focus on data monitoring stations and satellite surveillance of Chinese dam-building activity, and exploring regional water cooperation with Bangladesh and Bhutan.

A Call for Cooperation

The situation underscores the urgent need for a legally binding multilateral framework on transboundary rivers in the Himalayas. Confidence-building measures between India and China could include transparent data sharing, joint hydrological research and environmental impact assessments, and independent monitoring mechanisms under regional or global oversight.

Conclusion

China’s Super Dam project is a bold expression of its technological and strategic ambition, but it casts a long shadow over India’s water security and ecological stability. The river that sustains millions across borders must not become a tool of political leverage. As climate change accelerates and water scarcity grows, transboundary water cooperation must become a central pillar of regional diplomacy in South Asia.

References:

1. “China’s Mega Dam Project Poses Big Risks for Asia’s Grand Canyon,” Yale Environment 360.
2. “China to build world’s largest hydropower dam in Tibet,” BBC News.
3. “China’s plan for world’s biggest dam a mega-disaster for India,” Asia Times.
4. “China Builds Mega Dam to Gain Leverage Over South Asia,” Fair Observer.
5. “World’s largest dam to be built by China raises concerns in India,” Voice of America.
6. “How China Could Turn Water Into a Weapon,” Time Magazine.
7. “China’s Dam-Building Spree Threatens Relations with India,” Global Asia.
8. “India voices alarm over China’s plans to build world’s largest dam in Tibet,” Financial Times. (Yale e360, BBC, Asia Times, Fair Observer, Voice of America, Time, globalasia.org, Financial Times)

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