India-China relations, which had been improving after resolving border tensions in Ladakh, are facing new challenges. India is upset with China for two reasons: creating new counties in the Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang and planning a large dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet.
India claims that the new Chinese counties, He’an and Hekang, include parts of Ladakh. The Indian government has strongly protested to China about this, saying they never accepted China’s control over this area. India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that these new counties do not change India’s stance on its sovereignty over the region.
These issues arise just after India and China resumed talks on border matters, showing some positive signs in their relationship. However, China’s recent actions have increased tensions again.
India is also concerned about China’s plan to build a huge hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, known as the Brahmaputra in India. This dam would be the largest in the world, surpassing China’s Three Gorges Dam. India worries about the impact on downstream areas like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Jaiswal emphasized that India has user rights to the river’s waters and has consistently expressed concerns to China about such projects. He called for transparency and consultation, assuring that India will protect its interests.
Experts warn that the dam’s location in the earthquake-prone eastern Himalayas poses risks. Besides environmental concerns, India fears China could control water flow, affecting agriculture and biodiversity.
China says the dam will help its carbon neutrality goals and denies negative effects on downstream areas. However, Indian analysts argue that such actions harm trust and cooperation between the two countries.
