Arunachal CM Pema Khandu Raises Concerns Over China’s Actions and Environmental Threats
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has voiced serious concerns about China’s reliability, citing its history of resource exploitation and its ambitious hydropower projects as potential threats to regional stability and the environment.
Speaking at a seminar on “Environment and Security,” Khandu highlighted China’s non-participation in the United Nations Water Treaty as a significant issue, raising doubts about its intentions and accountability in transboundary water management.
During the seminar, attended by MP Tapir Gao and Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration, Khandu emphasized the ecological risks posed by China’s 60,000 MW hydropower project on the Brahmaputra and Siang Rivers.
While acknowledging the importance of hydropower as a clean energy source, he cautioned against its excessive exploitation, warning that large-scale projects could disrupt the fragile ecosystem of these vital rivers.
The chief minister underscored Arunachal Pradesh’s commitment to peace and non-violence but questioned whether China’s historical actions warranted trust.
He stressed the importance of addressing the situation in Tibet, a region that shares direct borders with Arunachal, as part of the broader effort to maintain regional harmony and ecological balance.
The seminar, which saw the participation of several Arunachal ministers and MLAs, reflected a unified stance on these pressing issues.
Khandu reiterated the state government’s determination to strike a balance between fostering peaceful relations and safeguarding its environmental and geopolitical interests. His remarks come at a time when China’s actions continue to raise alarm across various sectors, making conservation and security a shared priority for the region.
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