WASHINGTON: National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Visit to New Delhi to Discuss Environmental Impact of Chinese Dams
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s trip to New Delhi from January 5-6 is expected to focus on discussions with Indian counterparts about the impact of Chinese dams, a senior US official revealed on Friday. Washington sees India as a counter to China’s rising influence in Asia and beyond, and is concerned about the environmental and climate impacts of Chinese dams on downstream countries.
A senior US official highlighted the potential for Chinese dams in the Mekong region to have “really potentially damaging environmental but also climate impacts” on downstream countries. India has already conveyed its concerns to Beijing over China’s plan to build a hydropower dam in Tibet on the Yarlung Zangbo River, which flows into India.
The construction of the dam, set to be the largest of its kind in the world with an estimated capacity of 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, was approved last month. Chinese officials have denied that hydropower projects in Tibet will have a major impact on the environment or water supplies.
Other topics to be discussed during Sullivan’s visit include civilian nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence, space, military licensing, and Chinese economic overcapacity. However, American officials will not be meeting with the Dalai Lama during the visit.
The US and India have built close ties in recent years, with some differences over issues such as minority abuse in India, New Delhi’s ties with Russia amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and alleged assassination plots against Sikh separatists on US and Canadian soil.