China defends building dam on Brahmaputra amid rising concerns of water control

China has defended the construction of a dam it is building on the Brahmaputra River by stating that it is “within its sovereign” territory while clarifying that the project “will not adversely affect” the downstream regions.”To build the hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River (Chinese name for Brahmaputra) is fully within China’s sovereignty,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), on July 23.
“China acts with a high sense of responsibility in harnessing cross-border rivers, and has rich experience in hydropower projects,” it added.
China has started the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra river. The project that started on July 19, has raised concerns in India about the control of the water flow of the river, as the dam site is located just before it enters India in Arunachal Pradesh.

To build the hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River is fully within China’s sovereignty. The project aims to speed up clean energy development, improve local people’s life, and proactively respond to climate change.

China acts with a high sense of… pic.twitter.com/9myFqIsUHw— CHINA MFA Spokesperson Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson (@MFA_China) July 23, 2025

While the Chinese foreign ministry stated that the project aims to speed up clean energy development to improve local people’s lives in the Tibetan region, while proactively respond to climate change, the $167 billion plan has sparked environmental and geopolitical concerns.”The project, once completed, will help prevent and mitigate disasters along the entire Yarlung Zangbo River, and will not adversely affect downstream regions,” the statement read.

Read more: ‘Water bomb’: How China’s dam on Brahmaputra can impact India

“China is engaged in cooperation with downstream countries on sharing hydrological data, flood prevention and disaster reduction. We have had necessary communication with them on the project, and will continue enhancing cooperation for the benefit of all people along the river basin,” it added.

It is important to understand that India and China do not have any water sharing treaty, although both have agreements in place to share data during the monsoon season.

The dam is equally concerning for Bangladesh which is also dependent on the river’s water for its livelihood. During adverse bilateral relations, the control of the water can play a major role in the form of diplomatic relations between the countries.