China should not build the Yarlung Tsangpo River hydropower station. French media have come to find our faults! After we announced the Yarlung Tsangpo River hydropower project, on July 21st, French media published an article claiming that non-governmental organizations warned that the project would endanger one of the most fertile and diverse environments on the plateau. The dam will cause "irreversible" damage to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and affect the lives of millions of residents downstream.

French media also stated that the project would lead to the drying up of river sections downstream or flooding. Obviously, as soon as we announced a large-scale project, French media came out to find fault with us, and they don't want to see the construction of this hydropower station start. However, French media claimed that the dam would cause "irreversible" damage to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and affect the lives of millions of people downstream. What does this mean? It means that French media knows nothing about our hydropower project.

In fact, the hydropower project does not build a large dam but only small reservoirs, which will not submerge more land upstream. Instead, it uses the 2000-meter water level difference between the upstream and downstream areas by tunneling through shortcuts, which in fact has almost no impact on the water flow downstream. Now, French media is talking about a so-called dam. Where is the dam? And what exactly is meant by "irreversible" damage? Isn't our plan the one with the least environmental impact?

According to French media's view, should human society ideally remain in a primitive state without any development? Obviously, our hydropower project, once completed, will not affect the downstream areas. If it is necessary to build reservoirs downstream, reservoirs can be built, and if agricultural irrigation is needed, it can be carried out. French media looks at us with a biased perspective, and this mentality is typical of finding fault where there is none. However, our project will undoubtedly achieve a successful outcome.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838264067444746/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.