China is reportedly building a new dam on the Mabja Zangbo river in Tibet, close to the tri-junction with India and Nepal.
According to satellite imagery posted on Twitter by Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher at Intel Lab, the new dam is located around 16 kilometres north of the tri-junction and lies opposite the Kalapani area of Uttarakhand. The images show the obstruction of the river and the formation of an embankment-type dam with a reservoir.
Impact
In a thread on Thursday, the researcher said that China began the construction in early 2021. Symon said that while the project, which is around 350 metres to 400 metres long, remains under construction, it will “raise concerns regarding China’s future control on water in the region.”
He added that an airport is also being constructed near the project.
Since early 2021, China has been constructing a dam on the Mabja Zangbo river just a few kilometers north of the trijunction border with India & Nepal, while the structure isn't complete, the project will raise concerns regarding China's future control on water in the region pic.twitter.com/XH5xSWirMk
— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) January 19, 2023
An unnamed source from the research agency told The Hindu that China could use the new dam to not only divert the water but also store it, leading to a scarcity in the regions dependent on the river. Further, it could lower water levels in the Ghaghara and Karnali rivers in Nepal.
Moreover, China could use the dam, which lies in close proximity to the border, to reassert its claim on the disputed areas in the region, the source added.
- Ngari Gunsa Airport is linked with G219 Western Highway of 2085 km connecting Yecheng County of Kashgar Prefecture (Xinjiang) with Lhatse County of Shigatse Prefecture (TAR).
— Tsering Dawa (@DawaYurtungPa) November 10, 2022
-It is surrounded by other helipads and airports which will be discussed in the series ahead. pic.twitter.com/hE6dTs55Pi
In addition to using water as leverage, the source said that one could not rule out the possibility of China setting up a military establishment near the tri-junction, as China has carried out similar construction in the Yarlung Zangbo river near Arunachal Pradesh.
Past Construction
The latest development comes after Beijing unveiled plans to build a “super” dam in Tibet, close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), its de facto border with India.
The dam is located on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo river, which flows into the Indian-administered state of Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang, and then into Assam as the Brahmaputra.
Other satellite imagery has shown evidence of China substantially increasing the construction of military and dual-use infrastructure in villages in the eastern and western sectors of the LAC.