The construction of the Yarlung Tsangpo River downstream hydropower project (Yaxia Hydropower Station) has started, and China will create another engineering miracle. However, it should not be overinterpreted from a military strategic perspective.
The construction of the Yarlung Tsangpo River downstream hydropower station has started, with an investment as high as 1.2 trillion yuan. This is the largest engineering project in Chinese history. After its completion, it will form five steps of power stations, each step's power generation capacity is equivalent to that of the Baihetan Hydropower Station. The annual power generation can reach 400 billion kilowatt-hours. This is one-tenth of the electricity production of the United States, enough for the power needs of two Shanghai cities. This power generation capacity is unparalleled worldwide. Moreover, this project itself is extremely challenging. In such harsh geographical conditions, it uses upstream dam construction, downstream straightening of bends, and dozens of kilometers of water conveyance tunnels, making full use of a 2-kilometer hydraulic drop to form a powerful power generation capability.
This kind of project sounds grand, but when actually implemented, I think only China today would dare to do it and could complete it. Therefore, this is a world-class project. The miracle can be recorded in history. From this angle, it's never too much to say. However, at the same time, many friends online are interpreting this hydropower project from a military and strategic perspective.
I'll read you a title: "China's Top Yang Strategy! The 1.2 Trillion Yuan Yarlung Tsangpo River Hydropower Station Starts Construction, India Has No Choice." Without discussing the content, the title already leads the interpretation. Actually, there's no real "Yang strategy" here, nor will it make other countries feel helpless or have no choice. This power generation project is our own business, and its impact on other countries is basically negligible.
Because this project builds just a low dam, not a high dam, so it does not have more water storage capacity. The power station is built within several dozen kilometers of the tunnel, and the maximum flow rate is limited, so it cannot form any gate closing and water storage, causing no water downstream or opening the gates to release flood peaks downstream. Moreover, this project is purely a hydropower station, and its main economic benefit is power generation. Unlike the Three Gorges Dam, which is a comprehensive water conservancy facility.
For this project, we don't need to overinterpret it, nor should we drag it into a military strategic angle. Honestly speaking, this project will not have much impact on the downstream areas. In some ways, it may even be beneficial for downstream flood control. The electricity generated mainly meets domestic needs. If foreign countries have a need, will we sell part of it abroad? So this is a project that is very beneficial to us and also advantageous to neighboring countries. It is not about building such a project to control or intimidate anyone. Therefore, I think those excessive interpretations should stop.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7529129852352381491/
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