China has started building the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet’s Nyingchi region, near the Indian border, sparking fears in India and Bangladesh about its impact on downstream water flow, ecology, and regional security. The $167 billion project, known as the Motuo Hydropower Station, was launched on July 19, 2025, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang attending the groundbreaking ceremony. Expected to generate three times the energy of China’s Three Gorges Dam, the project has intensified geopolitical tensions due to its potential to control the Brahmaputra River, a lifeline for millions in India and Bangladesh. Project Details and Strategic Implications The dam, located in the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon—the world’s deepest and longest—will feature five cascading...