India Protests Chinese Counties, Concerns Over Mega Dam

Why in the news?

India has lodged a protest against China’s creation of new counties in Ladakh and raised concerns over China’s $137 billion mega dam project on the Brahmaputra river, emphasizing transparency and protection of downstream interests.

India Protests Chinese Counties, Concerns Over Mega Dam

India Lodges Protest Over New Counties in Ladakh:

  • India raised a formal protest against China’s creation of two new counties in Hotan prefecture, which include territory from Ladakh.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reminded China that India never accepted its illegal occupation of this region.
  • India emphasized that the creation of these countries would not affect India’s sovereignty over the area or legitimize China’s occupation.
  • The protest followed Chinese news reports announcing the formation of He’an County and Hekang County in the Hotan region, which includes parts of Aksai Chin.

India Raises Concerns Over Mega Hydropower Dam

  • India expressed concerns over China’s announcement of constructing the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river in Tibet.
  • India, as a lower riparian state with established user rights to the Brahmaputra’s waters, is worried about the dam’s potential impact on the river’s flow and ecology.
  • The project, expected to be worth $137 billion, would surpass the size of the Three Gorges Dam.
  • India criticized China for not officially communicating this project and stressed the need for transparency and consultation with downstream nations, particularly India.

Diplomatic Engagements and Future Monitoring

  • India’s concerns were expressed following a high-level India-China meeting aimed at resolving border tensions, particularly after the Galwan clashes.
  • MEA has urged China to ensure that the dam does not negatively impact downstream countries like India and Bangladesh.
  • The Indian government will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary steps to protect its interests.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times