US national security adviser Sullivan to address Chinese dam projects during visit to India

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is scheduled to visit New Delhi on January 5-6, where he is anticipated to engage in discussions with Indian officials regarding the implications of Chinese dams, according to a senior U.S. official’s statement made late Friday.

The United States and its Western allies have consistently regarded India as a strategic counterbalance to China’s expanding influence across Asia and beyond.

“We have observed that the upstream dams constructed by China, particularly in the Mekong region, can lead to significant environmental and climate-related challenges for downstream nations,” the official noted in advance of Sullivan’s trip.

The official also mentioned that Washington intends to address New Delhi’s concerns during the visit. The Indian government has expressed its apprehensions to Beijing regarding China’s initiative to construct a hydropower dam in Tibet on the Yarlung Zangbo River, which flows into India. Chinese representatives assert that the hydropower projects in Tibet will not significantly affect the environment or downstream water availability.

The dam in question, which is projected to be the largest of its kind globally with an estimated annual capacity of 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, received approval last month.

Washington anticipates that discussions will include civilian nuclear collaboration, artificial intelligence, space exploration, military licensing, and China’s economic overcapacity, according to a U.S. official. Another official noted that American representatives will not engage with the Dalai Lama during the visit.

In recent years, the relationship between Washington and New Delhi has strengthened, although there have been occasional disagreements regarding matters such as the treatment of minorities in India, New Delhi’s relationship with Russia in light of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and alleged assassination attempts against Sikh separatists on U.S. and Canadian territory.