Geo-Politics of Sino-Indian Transboundary Water Management In Brahmaputra River

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Arpan Mandal, Rengmili Engtipi , Kripal Das

Abstract

Brahmaputra River plays an essential role to life, livelihood, food security and sustainable development for the people of North Eastern states of India. Being a trans-boundary river that runs through Tibet, India and Bangladesh it’s faced with continued political, economic and ecological dilemma. With its origin in Tibet as Yarlung-Tsangpo, China have the control over the accessibility of the river and can create problems for the lower riparian states. With the continued construction of dams on the Yarlung-Tsangpo River in the Tibet region it can be a form of concern, as China will have the ability to control India’s water supply. Also the plans to divert the flow of water to the barren region of North West region of China Xinjiang can be seen as a strategic form of reducing the river flow to India. Therefore, this paper will look at the relations between the two rival countries-China and India, and provide the prelude to an era of hostility due to the issue of water reserve in the Yarlung-Tsangpo region in Tibet. Also it will analyze on how China can “weaponize” this to its advantage over the lower riparian states thus demonstrating a hegemonic character that contradicts the statement of “China’s peaceful rise”. Therefore, there is an urgent need for establishing water treaty that can warrant sharing of information that can develop mutual understanding and trust between two rival neighboring countries. This can ensure a form of peace even in the unwarranted times of border clash between India and China. With the ongoing pandemic, the global solidarity between two giant powers: India and China could be a necessity as they could work together and combine their efforts of economic, political and strategic power to combat various problems ranging from climate, environment ,border issues as well as address the question of balance of power in the Asian region.

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