Liu Peng
Dr. Liu Peng holds a PhD degree in International Relations and works as Lecturer at the Research Institute of Indian Ocean Economies, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, China.
DOI: http://DOI Number
Keywords: Non-traditional security issues, trans-border rivers, China, India, Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River, national interest, vulnerabilities
Abstract
Trans border rivers are becoming a cause of conflict between many states. The main focus of this paper is the rivers flowing between China and India. Both governments use the term “trans-border rivers” in the official documents; therefore, this paper uses the same nomenclature for consistency. Trans-border rivers between China and India mainly consist of three systems: the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River, upstream rivers of the River Indus, and upstream rivers of the Ganges River. According to statistics from the Department of Water Resources of Tibet, China, there are 16 trans-border rivers between China and India. Among the three river systems mentioned above, the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River is the largest in terms of basin area and stream flow. The Brahmaputra River is also India’s largest river in terms of stream flow and hydropower generation capacity. Therefore, the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River is the most significant in current trans-border rivers between China and India. This paper takes a national interest-based realist approach to the analysis of the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River. After examining the gaps in the existing analyses on the subject, it outlines the national interests of both countries with respect to the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River.
First Published
September 25, 2015
How to Cite
Liu Peng, “Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra River in China-India Relations: A Case of Asymmetric Interdependence,” Regional Studies 33, no.4 (Autumn 2015): 3-21, https://regionalstudies.com.pk/wp/article/yarlung-tsangpo-brahmaputra-river-in-china-india-relations-a-case-of-asymmetric-interdependence/
Issue
Volume 33, Issue 4