China is constructing a massive dam on the Mabuja Zambo river, as per a report from the Geneva Daily. Why does this matter? Well, as per the report, China plans to use water as a ‘weapon of war’. The dam that is being constructed just a few kilometres north of the India-Nepal border. China is also apparently planning to construct an airport near the dam, which would become an effective forward Chinese base.
Conflicts over water resources, known as “water wars”, occur between countries, states, or groups when water becomes a source of tension. It is worth flagging that China, after occupying Tibet, has gained control over the largest amount of the Brahmaputra River, also known as the “Yarlung Tsangpo.” This river originates in Tibet and flows into China, India, and Bangladesh. China apparently intends to build 20 dams in Medog, on the border with Arunachal Pradesh, with the goal of generating 60,000 MW of power and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. This development could lead to further tensions in the future as China expands its control over the water in the area.
China’s project can have negative impacts for India
The China Yangtze Power Company has proposed constructing a large tunnel to redirect 50 billion cubic meters of water from the Big Bend to the southeastern slope, where it will flow over nine hydropower dams to produce 40,000 MW of power. This proposal has affected the converging underground belts and may cause earthquakes. The diversion of water could have negative impacts on India, including environmental consequences and artificial floods, as well as strain India’s agricultural needs in the northeast and potentially lead to overflowing and flooding. Additionally, the construction of dams may decrease the amount of silt in the river, negatively affecting agricultural productivity and putting food security and livelihoods of people living along the river at risk.
China and India had signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the sharing of hydrological data from three upstream monitoring stations of the Brahmaputra River during the monsoon season, from May 15 to October 15, with India and Bangladesh. However, since the 2017 border standoff between China and India, known as the Doklam issue, China has stopped providing hydrological data to India, despite continuing to provide the same data to Bangladesh at no cost. This data is crucial for India in predicting and preparing for floods and reducing flood damage. Some experts believe that China is using the river as a weapon against India by stopping the flow of important data and linking water issues with border disputes in order to put pressure on India. In New Delhi, military experts are concerned about the potential security implications of a disputed dam near the Indian border.