29th July 2025 (10 Topics)
1
Jul
2
Jul
3
Jul
4
Jul
5
Jul
7
Jul
8
Jul
9
Jul
10
Jul
11
Jul
12
Jul
14
Jul
15
Jul
16
Jul
17
Jul
18
Jul
19
Jul
21
Jul
22
Jul
23
Jul
24
Jul
25
Jul
26
Jul
28
Jul
29
Jul
30
Jul
31
Jul
India-China Brahmaputra Water Dispute
You must be logged in to get greater insights. click here to login
Context
China has commenced construction of a major hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) at Medog, raising geopolitical, environmental, and strategic concerns for India.
Strategic Implications of the Medog Dam
- China’s Tactical Hydropower Expansion: The 60 GW dam project at Medog, the world’s largest hydroelectric project, symbolizes Beijing’s ambition to harness upstream riparian power without regional consultations.
- Risks to Downstream India: The dam could significantly alter the river's flow into Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, affecting flood cycles, water availability, and long-term ecological stability.
- Opaque Transboundary Conduct: China’s refusal to share detailed hydrological data or engage in treaty-based riparian cooperation undermines trust and heightens regional security risks.
Diplomatic and Regional Asymmetries
- Absence of Formal Water-sharing Treaty: Unlike the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, India and China lack any binding agreement governing the Brahmaputra, leaving India vulnerable to upstream decisions.
- Quiet Diplomacy’s Limitations: India’s current strategy of restrained diplomatic communication with China has failed to deter Beijing’s unilateral moves on transboundary river systems.
- Geostrategic Comparison with Pakistan: The article contrasts how India generously engages with Pakistan over water-sharing while failing to demand reciprocity or transparency from China.
Environmental Fragility and Future Engagement
- Tectonic Volatility of Eastern Himalayas: The Brahmaputra basin, influenced by the Himalayan Frontal Thrust and the Medog Fault, is highly seismic; large dams pose serious earthquake and landslide risks.
- Downstream Disaster Vulnerability: Unilateral projects could exacerbate flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and sedimentation, particularly in Assam and Bangladesh.
- Need for Multilateral Norm-building: India must assert its riparian rights through formal diplomatic channels, build international pressure, and push for basin-level multilateral hydrodiplomacy mechanisms.
Practice Question:
“The construction of hydropower dams by China on the Brahmaputra river presents a serious strategic and environmental challenge for India. Critically evaluate India’s current diplomatic posture and suggest a comprehensive framework to protect its riparian interests.”
More Articles
Courses
Study
Notes
Home
Resources
More
