China Approves Mega-Dam in Tibet, Sparking Environmental and Regional Concerns

China has greenlit the Medog Hydropower Station, set to become the world’s largest dam, on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, according to Xinhua news. Projected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours annually—three times the output of the Three Gorges Dam—the project raises alarms over ecological disruption, displacement, and water security in India and Bangladesh, where the river flows as the Brahmaputra. Activists warn of severe biodiversity loss and altered water flows. Critics also highlight risks from the dam's location in a quake-prone region. With over 193 dams planned in Tibet, the project underscores China's growing regional influence via hydropower.