Illegal occupation, strong protest… India reprimands China over dam project and new county in Ladakh

New Delhi: Can there be a break in the improving relations between India and China? These questions are being raised because China has approved the construction of a huge dam on the Brahmaputra river. China’s announcement regarding the dam has raised concerns for India and Bangladesh. While asserting rights over the areas falling under Ladakh region, a unilateral decision has been taken to create two new administrative counties. India has expressed objection to this also. The Ministry of External Affairs has lodged a strong protest against this, alleging ‘illegal occupation’.

Conflict over dam on Brahmaputra river

This protest by the Foreign Ministry came after China’s official news agency Xinhua announced the construction of the dam on December 25, 2024. China’s decision has increased concerns in nations like India and Bangladesh. China has also announced the creation of two new counties in Ladakh, which India has described as illegal occupation of its territory. India has expressed strong objection to China’s decision in which it has given approval to build the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra river. This dam will be built near the Indian border in Tibet.

India expressed objection to China’s decision

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in the press conference that India has conveyed its concerns to China at the expert level and through diplomatic channels. he/she said, ‘We have seen information released by Xinhua on December 25, 2024 which is about a hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. We have conveyed our views and concerns to the Chinese side on mega projects on rivers in our region through expert level and diplomatic channels.

Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the dam project

MEA spokesperson said that we have urged the Chinese side that the interests of the countries located in the lower flow areas of Brahmaputra are not harmed by the activities in the upper flow area. We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests. This dam, which is being described as a big project, has an estimated cost of 137 billion dollars. It will be bigger than China’s Three Gorges Dam.
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What is the dam project related to Brahmaputra river?

According to the South China Morning Post report, the project could involve an investment of more than one trillion yuan ($137 billion). The dam will be built in a vast valley in the Himalayan region, where the Brahmaputra river takes a sharp U-turn and flows into Bangladesh before entering Arunachal Pradesh.

That’s why India expressed strong protest

India has expressed concern over the dam because it gives China the power to control the water flow of the river. Also, due to its huge size and scale it also poses a risk of flooding in border areas by releasing large amounts of water during potential hostilities. Randhir Jaiswal reacts on the creation of two new counties, Hean County and Hekang County, in Ladakh.

MEA also reacted on two counties

MEA spokesperson said that we have lodged a strong protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels. We have seen the announcement regarding the establishment of two new counties in Hotan province of China. Parts of the jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. We have never accepted illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this region.