China’s Ecological Assault on the Himalayas: How Its Infrastructure Push Is Putting South Asia at Risk
by Imran Khurshid
China’s relentless infrastructure expansion across the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau is placing an already fragile ecosystem under unprecedented pressure. From dams and mining to roads, tunnels and mega-projects, Beijing’s activities pose growing environmental, geological and strategic risks to billions of people downstream.
China’s activities are raising growing concerns about their potential impact on the fragile ecology of the Himalayas. It is undertaking large-scale mining and drilling, building roads and highways, expanding urban and border settlements, and constructing railway lines, tunnels, airports, dams and other infrastructure, thereby damaging this sensitive and fragile region.1 The Himalayas are already facing heat from climate change and other factors, but Beijing’s initiatives and interventions are making the region even more fragile and vulnerable, with serious consequences for the entire region. China is carrying out extensive construction and excavation in these areas, further increasing the risks and vulnerabilities of this fragile region. A 2022 study published in Scientific Reports, titled “Evaluating the Impact of Highway Construction Projects on Landscape Ecological Risks in High Altitude Plateaus,” which examined highway construction in Shigatse, Tibet, found that “progressive destruction of vegetation during highway construction” had caused “significant landscape changes” and resulted in a “fragmented landscape.” The study also found that the ecological-risk index in the surrounding area increased by 27.29% after construction.2 Similarly, a 2023 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, titled “Ecological Impacts Associated with the Qinghai–Tibet Railway and Its Influencing Factors: A Comparison Study on Diversified Research Units,” examining the Qinghai–Tibet Railway, warned that “the ecological impacts of the construction and operation of the main transport infrastructure on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau cannot be disregarded.”3 It noted that transport infrastructure has “directly changed the land use pattern, disrupted ecosystems, increased the ecological vulnerability and landscape fragmentation, and impaired the function and stability of local ecosystems.”4 These findings highlight the ecological pressures of large-scale infrastructure development in this already fragile region. The recent flash floods in Nepal, which were devastating, could also be related to these developments.
China’s Silence Amid a Himalayan Disaster
Moreover, China, which boasts so much about its technological advancements and capabilities, could have shared critical, real-time data and early warnings that could have significantly reduced loss of life and destruction, saving thousands of lives downstream. Moreover, as per reports, when the disaster struck on August 26, 2026, the massive Langtang Lirung glacial collapse triggered a seismic event reportedly measuring 5.2 in magnitude.5 Given China’s advanced technological and monitoring capabilities, it is inconceivable that such significant seismic activity and other warning signs would not have been detected by Chinese monitoring instruments and warning systems. China could have shared this critical data with Nepal, but it did not. As a result, communities downstream received no official warning before a catastrophic wall of water and debris struck, destroying vital infrastructure.
Moreover, there have been many deaths and widespread destruction in Nepal, with thousands of people still missing, but very little is known about what happened in Tibet—the deaths, destruction, and overall extent of the damage. No independent videos, visuals, or photographs provide a clear picture of the situation. Very little is known because the Chinese government has enforced a strict information blackout in Gyirong County and restricted access to communication.6 Besides, China already imposes strict restrictions on access to Tibet and does not allow foreign journalists and independent observers to freely access and report from the region, making it extremely difficult to independently verify what has happened on the ground.7 Instead, we mainly see Chinese state media releasing videos of the PLA carrying out relief and rescue operations around the destroyed Gyirong Port checkpoint, glorifying their efforts and using them as propaganda. They are using these tightly controlled narratives to project an image of efficient crisis management, while concealing the true scale of the tragedy, the massive casualties, and the complete obliteration of local Tibetan infrastructure.
The Tibetan Plateau is the source of many major rivers and provides water to approximately 1.5 billion people across South Asia and beyond.8 Yet China is building a relentless network of countless dams across the region and has already constructed several major hydropower projects. The region is highly seismic and a high-risk zone for earthquakes, landslides and other natural disasters. China’s continuous push to build massive concrete structures in such an unstable region threatens to turn the upstream water supply into a major strategic vulnerability, while completely ignoring the terrifying reality that a single major earthquake, tectonic shift or landslide could damage or rupture critical dam infrastructure and unleash a catastrophic flood downstream, threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of innocent people.
Brahmaputra Dam and the Seismic Threat
Similarly, China is building its largest dam on the Brahmaputra River.9 Environmentalists have warned about the risks of building such a massive project in a seismically active region near geological fault lines. Such a development could have devastating consequences for the lower riparian population if a major structural failure or earthquake were to affect the dam. The sheer scale of this dam is also deeply concerning. It could have serious geological and environmental consequences and, according to some geologists, could even affect the Earth’s rotation. By relentlessly pushing forward with this monstrous 60-gigawatt mega-project directly over volatile fault lines, China is effectively building a ticking time bomb. Just as the staggering mass of water concentrated by the Three Gorges Dam shifted planetary weight enough to alter the Earth’s spin by 0.06 microseconds, this planned colossus—designed to generate three times more power than Three Gorges—could physically warp the planet’s dynamics while hanging an apocalyptic threat directly over the heads of millions of vulnerable people downstream.10
The risks associated with this dam are so serious that even Chinese geologists and scientists have expressed concern about it. A recent report by the South China Morning Post, citing a study published in the Chinese-language journal Sedimentary Geology and Tethyan Geology and supervised by the state-owned China Geological Survey, reported that Chinese geologists had identified the active Paizhen Fault beneath the project area.11 The researchers wrote that “the Paizhen Fault…makes the foundation bearing capacity and structural stability of nearby engineering projects more susceptible to damage.”
Imagine China, where dissent is tightly restricted, and people cannot freely speak out against major government initiatives. If even Chinese geologists and scientists are identifying such serious geological risks associated with one of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects, that is significant and extremely worrisome. The study warned that, “Under regional seismic action, landslides and collapses can easily be induced, threatening the safety of engineering facilities and personnel.” This requires immediate attention from India and the global community.
China’s AI Race Is Increasing Pressure on Tibet’s Resources
China, in its attempt to compete in artificial intelligence and become a global leader in the field, is also expanding its energy and infrastructure capacity at a staggering rate.12 Its rapidly growing AI computing infrastructure requires enormous amounts of stable electricity, while data centres also require massive quantities of water for cooling. China is therefore increasingly using the resources of Tibet to support its technological and strategic ambitions. Under its “East Data, West Computing” strategy, China is expanding computing infrastructure and energy capacity in its western regions. By increasingly relying on the Tibetan Plateau’s water and energy resources to support this technological expansion, Beijing is further pressuring an already fragile region and subordinating its environmental security to its broader technological and geostrategic rivalry with the United States.13
This is also part of a broader pattern in China’s infrastructure expansion, both within the country and across the world, in which concerns have frequently been raised about transparency, sustainability and environmental protection. Environmental assessments and ecological considerations are not always given adequate importance, particularly when large-scale infrastructure and strategic objectives take precedence over environmental concerns.14 Such an approach can be especially damaging in ecologically fragile regions such as the Himalayas, where even poorly planned infrastructure can have devastating consequences.
The Gyirong Port, which was washed away near the Nepal border during the recent floods, also raises questions about whether environmental factors were properly considered during its construction.15 For instance, the natural riverbed and flow should have been properly assessed. Similarly, China is building large roads and other infrastructure in the region without adequately considering the terrain’s fragility.16
This reflects a broader pattern in China’s infrastructure projects worldwide. BRI projects have often been criticised for a lack of transparency and inadequate environmental safeguards. They need to account for environmental damage, ecological balance, biodiversity loss, and the long-term consequences for local communities.17 For example, the mega dam China is building on the Brahmaputra River raises serious concerns about environmental damage, biodiversity loss and the disruption of the river’s ecological balance.
Hidden Environmental Costs
China’s development projects can therefore be described as fundamentally anti-nature when they prioritise large-scale construction and strategic objectives over ecological sustainability. Such projects can put entire populations and, ultimately, humanity at greater risk. The lack of transparency makes the situation even more problematic because when information on environmental risks, geological assessments and potential consequences is not openly available, these issues are less likely to receive the scrutiny they deserve.
The dam on the Brahmaputra is therefore a serious development for India. It must be closely monitored, and India must raise the issue at the highest diplomatic and international levels. The environmental, geological and strategic consequences of such a massive project cannot be ignored. India, along with other downstream countries and the global community, must demand greater transparency and a proper assessment of the risks involved.
The Himalayas are more than a geographical region. They are among the world’s most important ecological systems and the source of major rivers that sustain billions of people. Any large-scale, unplanned intervention in this fragile ecosystem can have consequences far beyond China’s borders. The ecological security of the Himalayas is therefore directly linked to the environmental and human security of the entire region.
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Endnotes
1 Khadka, Navin Singh. “Is India-China Race to Build Damaging the Himalayas?” BBC News, March 13, 2023. Accessed September 8, 2026. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64753169
2 Li, Chao, Jingxiao Zhang, Simon P. Philbin, Xu Yang, Zhanfeng Dong, Jingke Hong, and Pablo Ballesteros-Pérez. “Evaluating the Impact of Highway Construction Projects on Landscape Ecological Risks in High Altitude Plateaus.” Scientific Reports 12 (2022): 5170. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08788-8
3 Zhang, Lili, Yi Miao, Haoxuan Wei, and Teqi Dai. “Ecological Impacts Associated with the Qinghai–Tibet Railway and Its Influencing Factors: A Comparison Study on Diversified Research Units.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 5 (2023): 4154. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054154
4 Zhang, Lili, Yi Miao, Haoxuan Wei, and Teqi Dai. “Ecological Impacts Associated with the Qinghai–Tibet Railway and Its Influencing Factors: A Comparison Study on Diversified Research Units.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 5 (2023): 4154. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054154
5 Khadka, Navin Singh. “How the Deadly Nepal and Tibet Flash Flood Unfolded: A Visual Guide.” The Guardian, August 27, 2026. Accessed September 8, 2026. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/27/nepal-tibet-flash-flood-visual-guide-why-how-flooding-happened-floods-cause-reason-explained
6 “Nepal Floods Raise Questions over China’s Reporting.” NPR, September 7, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/09/07/nx-s1-5960357/nepal-floods-questions-over-chinas-reporting
7 ET Online. “China Deletes Viral Nepal Flood Videos Showing Massive Destruction in Tibet: Report.” The Economic Times, August 30, 2026. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/china-deletes-viral-nepal-flood-videos-on-social-media-showing-massive-destruction-in-tibet-report/articleshow/133622689.cms
8 Lobsang Sangay. “China Had 20 Minutes to Warn People: Lobsang Sangay on Nepal–Tibet Floods.” ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, September 2026. YouTube. https://youtu.be/iPHyZ_X8N5w
9 Krishnan, Ananth. “China to Proceed with Brahmaputra Mega Dam Despite New Concerns.” The Hindu, September 6, 2026. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-to-proceed-with-brahmaputra-mega-dam-despite-new-concerns/article71432282.ece
10 “Can China’s Gigantic Three Gorges Dam Really Slow Down Earth’s Rotation?” Firstpost. https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/can-chinas-gigantic-three-gorges-dam-really-slow-down-earths-rotation-13818967.html
11 Chik, Holly. “Active Fault Line Threatens World’s Biggest Hydropower Project, Chinese Geologists Warn.” South China Morning Post, July 9, 2026. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3359873/active-fault-line-threatens-worlds-biggest-hydropower-project-chinese-geologists-warn
12 Refer point 7
13 Mahajan, Trisha. “From Grasslands to GPUs: Why China Is Building Its AI Engine in Inner Mongolia—Explained in 5 Charts.” September 4, 2026. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/from-grasslands-to-gpus-why-china-is-building-its-ai-powerhouse-in-mongolia-explained-in-5-charts/articleshow/133756664.cms
14 Albert, Eleanor, and Beina Xu. “China’s Environmental Crisis.” Council on Foreign Relations, February 12, 2025. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/chinas-environmental-crisis
15 Lily Kuo and Pei-Lin Wu, “Why the Floods Took a Well-Prepared China by Surprise,” The New York Times, August 31, 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/world/asia/china-nepal-tibet-flood-himalayas-risk.html
16 Vadrevu, “Nepal floods: lessons in managing Himalayan rivers,” The Hindu Business Line, August 31, 2026, https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/nepal-floods-lessons-in-managing-himalayan-rivers/article71408349.ece
17 Jamir, Opangmeren. “Belt and Road Initiative and Environmental Challenges.” Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, August 31, 2022. https://idsa.in/publisher/comments/belt-and-road-initiative-and-environmental-challenges
Dr. Imran Khurshid is an Associate Research Fellow at the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS), New Delhi. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Kashmir, specialising in Indo-Pacific studies, South Asian security, and India–US strategic relations. His research focuses on South Asian geopolitics, international security, India–US relations, and emerging strategic dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. His academic work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including India Quarterly, the Journal of Asian and African Studies, and the Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs. His policy analyses and commentaries have appeared in Asia Times, The Diplomat, The Japan Times, Middle East Forum, EurAsian Times, Eurasia Review, Firstpost, News18, and leading Indian think tanks and policy platforms.
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