The Role of Tibet’s Transboundary Water Resources in the US-China Rivalry

At the World Water Week organized in Stockholm in August 2023, the US Department of State expressed concerns about Beijing’s large-scale water diversion projects and hydropower schemes in Tibet. In response, China’s state-controlled Global Times accused Washington of colluding with the“Dalai Lama clique”and fabricating“rumors and smears”that“have no scientific basis.”This episode gives us an insight into the possible growth of tensions between Beijing and Washington over freshwater resources in the context of the global climate change and the intensification of Sino-American rivalry. Against this backdrop, this article examines the official narratives of Beijing and Washington with respect to transboundary rivers originating in the China-controlled Tibet, which are a lifeline for the downstream countries of South and Southeast Asia. As a result, the paper maps out hydro-political complexities linked to China’s water leverage over the lower riparian countries. Finally, it draws a range of future scenarios for the unfolding international tensions arising from water-sharing practices.