'Illegal occupation, solemn protest': India raps China over dam project, new counties in Ladakh

NEW DELHI: India on Friday said it had registered a "solemn protest" with China over its approval for construction of a massive dam on the Brahmaputra River, and further accused Beijing of "illegal occupation" after it made a unilateral decision to create two new administrative counties that assert jurisdiction over areas that fall under the Ladakh region.


"We have seen the information released by Xinhua on 25 December 2024 regarding a hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level and diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory. These concerns have been reiterated, along with the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries, following the latest report,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said addressing a press briefing.

"The Chinese side has been urged to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas. We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests," Jaiswal added.

Jaiswal's response followed China's approval of constructing the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, near the Indian border, a project described as the planet's biggest.

Estimated to cost $137 billion, the mega infrastructure project has raised alarm in downstream countries, including India and Bangladesh, over potential impacts on water flow and regional stability.

The anticipated investment could surpass one trillion yuan ($137 billion), making it significantly larger than any existing infrastructure project globally, including China's Three Gorges Dam, as reported by the South China Morning Post on Thursday.

Read more: China plans world's largest dam on Brahmaputra
Where will be the dam built
The dam is planned to be constructed at a massive gorge in the Himalayan region, where the Brahmaputra river makes a sharp U-turn before entering Arunachal Pradesh and flowing into Bangladesh.

How will it impact India
India has raised concerns over the dam, as it not only empowers China to control the river’s water flow but also poses the risk of flooding border areas by releasing large volumes of water during potential hostilities due to its sheer size and scale, news agency PTI reported.


He'an County and Hekang County
Responding to China's establishment of two new counties in Ladakh, Randhir Jaiswal stated, "We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels."

"We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of the jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India's Union Territory of Ladakh. We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area," Jaiswal said.

"The creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India's long-standing and consistent position regarding our sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China's illegal and forcible occupation of the same. We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels," he added.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council authorised the creation of two new administrative regions: He'an County and Hekang County.