World’s largest hydropower project raises tensions with India and Bangladesh

SINGAPORE, July 22 — China has launched construction on what it claims will become the world’s largest hydropower project — a $170 billion undertaking capable of generating enough electricity to power the entire United Kingdom annually.

Unveiled by Premier Li Qiang over the weekend, the project has already boosted Chinese construction and engineering stocks. While Beijing touts the dam as a source of clean energy, job creation, and economic stimulus, downstream nations like India and Bangladesh are sounding alarms over potential threats to water access. The Yarlung Zangbo River — which becomes the Brahmaputra — is a vital water source for millions across South Asia.