Chinese Dam Plans on Brahmaputra Backed by Big Companies: Claude Arpi

Veteran Tibetologist Claude Arpi, in an interview with Down To Earth, raised concerns over China’s plans to build the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra). He warned that the region’s seismic activity and environmental risks could harm India’s Northeast and downstream ecosystems. Arpi highlighted lobbying by Chinese companies and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as driving such projects, despite opposition from scientists. Tibetans, he added, have no say in infrastructure decisions, which often serve dual military and civilian purposes. The dam reflects broader issues of climate change, infrastructure, and unaddressed water-sharing agreements.