The concerns were prompted by the Chinese government’s announcement of a plan to build the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra River, which flows into India and Bangladesh. The project, which is expected to cost around USD 137 billion, was approved by Beijing without prior consultation with India, as required by existing conventions between the two nations. India only learned of the project through media reports, prompting Indian officials to reach out to their Chinese counterparts to seek more information.

India has expressed concern about the potential impact of the dam on downstream states, particularly India and Bangladesh, which rely heavily on the river’s water. Delhi has urged China to ensure that the hydropower project does not harm the interests of these downstream countries. The Indian government has also requested greater transparency and consultations with both India and Bangladesh as the project moves forward.

Responding to questions, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized India’s long-standing position as a lower riparian state with established rights to the Brahmaputra’s waters. Jaiswal reiterated that India has consistently raised its concerns about large-scale projects in China’s upstream areas and has urged Beijing to avoid any actions that could adversely affect the flow of water downstream. He added that India would continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to protect its interests.

The hydropower project will be constructed in a gorge in the Himalayan region, where the Brahmaputra takes a dramatic U-turn before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh and Bangladesh. The project’s investment is expected to surpass one trillion yuan, making it one of the most ambitious infrastructure endeavors in the world, surpassing even China’s iconic Three Gorges Dam.

Despite these concerns, Chinese officials have attempted to alleviate fears about the environmental and geopolitical consequences of the project. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, downplayed the potential risks, stating that China had conducted extensive studies to ensure the project would not harm downstream regions. Mao also asserted that the project would not negatively impact the lower reaches of the river.

In addition to the hydropower project, India has lodged a formal protest over China’s establishment of two new counties in the Hotan Prefecture of its Xinjiang region, which India claims as part of its Union Territory of Ladakh. The creation of He’an County and Hekang County, which are located in areas of Aksai Chin, has raised concerns about China’s ongoing territorial claims in the region. India has maintained that it does not recognize China’s occupation of Aksai Chin, a region that it considers part of its sovereign territory.

Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s position, stating that the establishment of the counties would not alter India’s consistent stance on its sovereignty over the disputed area. He emphasized that India had lodged a formal protest through diplomatic channels to express its disapproval of China’s actions in the region.

As both issues continue to unfold, India remains vigilant in defending its territorial integrity and safeguarding the interests of its citizens, especially in relation to vital water resources like the Brahmaputra. India’s diplomatic efforts underscore its commitment to addressing the challenges posed by China’s actions and ensuring that its concerns are heard on the global stage.

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The Minister pointed out that bilateral relations between the two countries have remained “abnormal” since 2020 when peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were disturbed due to Chinese actions. Jaishankar acknowledged that while the relationship had progressed in various domains, recent events had impacted the ties negatively.

“Our relationship had progressed in many domains, but was obviously negatively affected by recent events. We are clear that the maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas is a pre-requisite for the development of our ties,” Jaishankar stated. He emphasized that the immediate priority was disengagement from friction points to prevent further clashes, which has now been fully achieved.

Focus on De-escalation and Border Management

Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha that India will now shift its focus to de-escalation and effective management of the border areas. He explained that the completion of disengagement allows for a more calibrated approach to other aspects of the bilateral relationship.

The External Affairs Minister recalled the 2020 face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces in eastern Ladakh, noting that the amassing of troops by China led to violent clashes, including the Galwan Valley incident, which marked the first fatalities between the two nations in 45 years. Jaishankar credited India’s armed forces for their rapid and effective counter-deployment despite logistical challenges and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Long History of Engagement and Disruptions

Jaishankar also highlighted the long history of efforts to ensure peace along the border, which dates back to 1988 when both countries agreed to resolve the boundary issue through peaceful consultations. Over the years, several agreements were reached, including the 1993 Agreement on the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LAC, confidence-building measures in 1996, and the 2003 Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation.

The Minister underscored that despite the unprecedented disruptions in 2020, India remains committed to the principles of respecting the LAC, not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally, and fully abiding by past agreements.

Diplomatic Efforts and Future Prospects

Jaishankar also shared that he recently met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where both sides agreed to convene Special Representatives and Foreign Secretary-level discussions soon. Furthermore, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun in Laos last month, where they discussed moving from disengagement to de-escalation to build greater trust and confidence between the two nations.

The bilateral meeting, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, was the first following recent disengagement agreements and a summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit.

India remains firm in its commitment to peace and security along the LAC, emphasizing diplomatic engagement as the way forward to restore tranquility and address future challenges.

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