India Protests China's He'an and Hekang Counties in Ladakh, Concerned Over $137 Billion Brahmaputra Dam

Jan 3, 2025, 11:50 AM

India has lodged a formal protest with China over the establishment of two new counties, He'an and Hekang, in the Hotan prefecture, which include areas within India's Union Territory of Ladakh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India has never accepted China's illegal occupation of Indian territory in this region. Additionally, India has expressed concerns about China's plan to construct a mega hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, which flows into India as the Brahmaputra. The project, estimated to cost $137 billion, has raised alarms in downstream countries. Jaiswal emphasized that India, as a lower riparian state with established user rights to the river's waters, has consistently conveyed its concerns to China through diplomatic channels. India urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by upstream activities and pledged to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to protect its interests.