Tibet hydropower plans will boost international cooperation, says Chinese state company boss despite risk of Indian backlash
- Chinese plans for the Yarlung Tsangpo risk further inflaming tensions with New Delhi amid the ongoing border stand-off
- But the boss of the Power Construction Corporation of China insists the scheme will protect China’s national security
A hydroelectric project in Tibet will protect China’s national security and foster international cooperation, the head of a leading state-owned construction firm has said.
But the Yarlung Tsangpo project risks further inflaming India, which shares the waterway, amid the prolonged border stand-off between the two countries.
Yan Zhiyong, chairman and Communist Party secretary of the Power Construction Corporation of China, said the latest five-year plan, which runs until 2025, made it clear the project would be implemented.
“I think the hydroelectric development in the lower reaches of Yarlung is not solely a hydroelectric project, but five projects combined,” Yan said.
“It is a national security project, ensuring China’s water resources security and homeland security … it’s a people’s welfare project that can contribute more than 20 billion yuan (US$3 billion) … it’s a key energy project that would make use of 60 million kilowatts of hydropower in Yarlung’s lower reaches,” said Yan, adding the development can also boost international cooperation and ecological development.
“It is an international cooperation project. After the completion of hydropower stations, power grids and roads, cooperation between China and South Asia will become smoother,” Yan said.