Chinese Dams And Indo-Pacific Stability On Agenda During US NSA Jake Sullivan’s High-Stakes Visit To India

United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s visit to New Delhi from 5-6 January is set to focus on discussions with Indian counterparts regarding the impact of Chinese dams, a senior US official stated on Friday (3 January).

The discussions are expected to focus on India’s concerns over China’s construction of a massive hydropower dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, which flows into India. 

Indian officials have conveyed apprehensions to Beijing about the potential environmental and downstream water supply impacts. 

However, Chinese authorities maintain that the project will have minimal environmental consequences.

The dam, approved last month, is expected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, making it the largest of its kind globally.

"We've certainly seen in many places in the Indo-Pacific that upstream dams that the Chinese have created, including in the Mekong region, can have really potentially damaging environmental but also climate impacts on downstream countries," a senior US official said ahead of Sullivan’s visit.

The agenda will also include discussions on broader cooperation, including civilian nuclear technology, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and military licensing. Economic concerns like Chinese overcapacity will also be part of the dialogue.

Despite growing US-India ties, several differences persist on issues including New Delhi’s relations with Russia, and recent allegations of assassination plots against Sikh separatists.

Notably, US officials confirmed there are no plans to meet the Dalai Lama during this visit.

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