COMMENTS / EXPERT ASSESSMENT
China’s promotion of transnational water development benefits riparian states
Published: Dec 29, 2020 12:38 PM
 

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 2, 2020 shows morning fog floating above the Yarlung Zangbo River in Medog County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Tang Tao)



Upholding a paranoid and ill-intended mindset, some foreign politicians and scholars have recently tried to re-hyping up the so-called China hydro-hegemony theory, following media reports about a hydropower development plan on the lower reach of Yarlung Zangbo River. The absurd theory vilifies China's cooperative promotion of cross-border water resource development which has been bringing in tangible benefits to riparian states.

The Japan Times on Sunday shared a commentary penned by Indian scholar Brahma Chellaney, claiming that China building up a mega-dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River will create a "permanent barrier" to its neighbors' economic prosperity, and it is using "its hydro-hegemony against its 18 downstream neighbors".

Groundless as it is, it's not surprising that some Indian anti-China forces have seized the opportunity to spread rumors. As well as the recent launch of a Mekong monitoring platform backed by Washington, which are topics cooked up to confront China and sow discord in the region.

Despite constant external noise and interference, cooperation between China and neighboring countries on development and management of transnational water resource has made substantial progress. 

Not only it is China's legitimate right to carry out hydropower station development in the Yarlung Zangbo River, China has always been prudent when it comes to development of cross-border water resources, based on thorough scientific planning and research, as well as consideration of impact on the downstream areas, considering the interests of both the upstream and the downstream.

Taking the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) for instance, initiated by China in 2014, the LMC consists of six countries, namely China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Based on active communication, it has brought tangible benefits to the people in the region, advancing sub-regional cooperation. 

"Since LMC was launched, China has helped Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to formulate water basin comprehensive plan and irrigation plan, and assisted downstream countries in flood control and mitigation plan; provided electricity generated by hydropower stations to the downstream countries such as Myanmar and Laos," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin introduced on a regular press conference on December 14.

Cross-border water resource development is not a simple task, and there's no catch-all standard scenario. However, the LMC framework does offer a great example for not only the cross-border cooperation between China and India, as well as for the international community.

In fact, China and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation on cross-border river. China has carried out effective cooperation with India and Bangladesh in flood reporting, flood control, disaster relief, and emergency management.

Unfortunately, some India forces have recklessly tried to politicize the topic with intention of fulfilling their own political interest. Not to mention that it is India that has been building dams on Brahmaputra river - the name of Yarlung Zangbo's downstream reach in India - regardless of objections from its downstream state Bangladesh.

Facts speak louder than words. China will not be a hydro-hegemony and it will not let foreign malicious parties to destruct its legitimate right to develop as well. Based on thorough scientific planning and research, and mutual-respected communications, China will continue to promote cooperation throughout cross-border rivers areas with its neighbors and advance regional development.

The article was compiled based on an interview with Zhao Gancheng, director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn