China's 'Tunnel' on Brahmaputra story is false, clarifies Chinese Foreign Ministry

New Delhi/Beijing: News of China planning a more dreadful plot than building a dam on Brahmaputra and stealing India’s water, surfaced recently. A Chinese editorial had claimed that China had built a 1000-km long “underground tunnel” and planned to divert the waters of Brahmaputra to its Xinjiang province. After receiving an aggressive response from India, China clarified that it was a false report. It is quite evident from the aggression being displayed by China over the past few days that India would have to face serious consequences if it were to trust the said report.

The closing session of China’s ruling Communist party concluded last week. President Xi Jinping was titled the most powerful leader since ‘Mao Tse-tung’, the leader who revolutionised China. Subsequently, China’s policy is undergoing many amendments. Adopting an aggressive strategy against India is the most significant element of China’s changed policy. The ‘South China Morning Post’, a Chinese daily published in Hong Kong, had reported that China was building a 1000-km long ‘tunnel’ over the river Brahmaputra. It claimed that China intends to turn its parched Xinjiang region into California. This has attracted a strong opposition from India.

India has already notified its objection over the reduced flow of the river Brahmaputra due to the dam being constructed over it. To add to this, China has been avoiding a response to India with the information of the amount of water being released from the dams. Under such circumstances, a strong response over the report on the tunnel construction, was certainly being expected from India. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has denied all such claims terming it a false report. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying clarfied that China was ready to co-operate with India over the issue concerning the rivers. However, in reality, China has not displayed any co-operation towards India on this front.

China’s non-cooperation and anti-India stand is not limited to the river Brahmaputra alone. China is now preparing for a strong reply to the retreat that it was forced to accept due to India’s aggressive stance at the Doklam standoff. It has conveyed the same by giving clear indications only a few days after President Xi Jinping assumed office for his second term. China has declared that it would continue to oppose the proposed ban on Pakistan-based terrorist organisation, ‘Jaish-e-Mohammad’ chief ‘Masood Ajhar’. China has once again made preparations to provoke India by using its power of veto. While releasing the list of terrorist organizations at the BRICS Summit held in China, “Jaish” was also enlisted by China. Nevertheless, China has once again instigated India by protecting ‘Azhar’.

The Chinese President has made an appeal to the Tibetan shepherds in the areas adjacent to its borders shared with Arunachal Pradesh, to protect its borders. He has suggested the construction of a base in the borderline area to accomplish this. China had attempted to takeover India’s land previously as well, with the help of shepherds and locals. Thus, it appears that it once again is deliberately provoking India on this border front.