Mon Jan 06 12:45:11 UTC 2025: ## China Defends Brahmaputra Dam Project Amidst Indian Concerns
**Beijing, January 6, 2025** – China has reiterated its commitment to building a massive dam on the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet), dismissing concerns raised by India and Bangladesh. The $18 billion project, slated for construction in a seismically active area of the Himalayas, has undergone rigorous scientific review, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. He claims the dam will not negatively impact downstream countries and may even improve disaster prevention and climate change response efforts.
India, however, has voiced strong concerns, urging China to ensure the interests of lower riparian states are protected. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s position, stating that the country will monitor the situation and take necessary steps to safeguard its water rights. This concern was also discussed during talks between visiting U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Sullivan’s visit precedes Donald Trump’s upcoming presidential inauguration.
China has previously defended the project, asserting that decades of research have addressed safety concerns and that the dam will contribute to clean energy development and climate change mitigation. While China pledged continued communication with downstream countries, India remains steadfast in its call for transparency and consultation regarding this significant undertaking near their shared border.
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