By Khedroob Thondup

China’s proposed mega-dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, located approximately 50 miles from the Indian border, represents one of the most consequential hydropower projects in the Himalayas. While Beijing frames the dam as a renewable energy initiative, the project carries severe environmental, ecological, and geopolitical risks for downstream nations—particularly India and Bangladesh. This brief outlines the potential consequences, regional security implications, and policy recommendations for mitigating the risks.

Background. The Yarlung Tsangpo flows eastward across Tibet before plunging into the world’s deepest gorge and entering India as the Brahmaputra River. The Brahmaputra sustains millions of livelihoods in Assam and Bangladesh, supporting agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems. China has already constructed multiple dams upstream, but this proposed mega-dam would be the largest...