China’s 60,000 MW Motok Hydropower Project on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River) in Tibet’s Medog county has sparked significant environmental, cultural, and geopolitical concerns. Situated just 30 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and upstream of India, the project is strategically positioned to give China unprecedented control over water resources that sustain millions across South and Southeast Asia. The five-year construction phase is expected to degrade water quality and disrupt ecosystems, while long-term consequences may include regional instability.

The project is part of a broader push for hydropower development across Tibet, which has seen the construction or planning of 193 hydroelectric dams since 2000. This rapid infrastructure development has displaced an estimated 750,000 to 1.2 million Tibetans, uprooting communities and destroying cultural landmarks such as centuries-old Buddhist monasteries. The environmental impact is equally severe, with dam construction triggering landslides, earthquakes, and flash floods, while disrupting water flow and aquatic ecosystems. Despite being marketed as a “green” energy solution, these dams contribute significant carbon emissions and release methane, undermining their claimed climate benefits.

The geopolitical implications of the Motok project are significant. By controlling the flow of the Yarlung Tsangpo and other rivers originating in Tibet, China wields considerable leverage over downstream nations like India and Bangladesh. Critics argue that this strategy amounts to “hydro-diplomacy,” as China restricts hydrological data and avoids regional water-sharing agreements, heightening tensions in an already fragile region.

Tibetan communities and environmental activists have raised alarms over the cultural and ecological costs of these projects. Many view the hydropower initiatives as an attempt to erase Tibetan identity and history while forcing compliance with Chinese cultural and political norms. Calls for alternative energy solutions, such as solar and wind power, have gained traction as more sustainable and less disruptive options.

The Motok Hydropower Project represents a critical juncture in the debate over environmental stewardship, human rights, and regional stability. Without meaningful dialogue and global attention, the costs of this project may far outweigh its benefits, threatening both human and natural heritage in one of the world’s most ecologically sensitive regions.