Tibet: A Paradise in Peril

Often referred to as the Third Pole alongside the Arctic and Antarctic, Tibet holds the world’s third-largest reservoir of fresh water. It serves as the source of major Asian rivers, including the Mekong, Yangtze, Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus, which sustain nearly two billion people. Additionally, its vast pastoral lands act as a natural barrier against the tropical climate of South and Southeast Asia. However, since Tibet came under Chinese control, the region has undergone significant environmental and demographic changes.

While China claims to be “developing” Tibet and creating employment opportunities, reports suggest otherwise. A tragic mine explosion in Tibet, which killed 83 workers, highlights the stark reality—only two of the deceased were Tibetan, indicating that employment opportunities largely benefit mainland Chinese workers rather than locals. This pattern reflects how Tibet is being exploited to fuel China’s economic growth rather than serving the interests of Tibetans.

China’s activities in Tibet have also led to devastating environmental consequences. Pollution levels have surged, not just in urban centers but across the region. Deforestation has drastically reduced Tibet’s forest cover from 25.2 million hectares in 1950 to just 13.5 million hectares. In 2000, China earned $54 billion from Tibetan timber exports, but the consequences were dire—the massive deforestation contributed to the catastrophic 1998 Yangtze River floods, which claimed over 3,000 lives and displaced 15 million people. Studies by the UN and Chinese experts identified unchecked logging and soil erosion as the primary causes of the disaster.

Environmental degradation in Tibet has continued into the 21st century. The 2010 Drukchu floods destroyed 300 Tibetan homes, while Chinese mining projects have severely polluted Tibetan rivers. Tibet is rich in lithium—a critical component for electric car batteries, mobile phones, and laptops—making it a major target for resource extraction. In one instance, Ronda Lithium Co. Ltd. dumped toxic waste into the Lichu River, killing large numbers of fish and contaminating water supplies. In 2016, widespread protests erupted over pollution from Chinese mining projects, yet authorities failed to act. Similar incidents occurred when the Gyama Copper Polymetallic Mine poisoned a river that was the primary water source for Tibetan farmers and livestock.

Despite presenting itself as a global leader in environmental sustainability, China’s exploitation of Tibet contradicts its claims. The destruction of Tibet’s delicate ecosystem has far-reaching consequences, not only for the region but for the world.

Beyond environmental concerns, China’s control over Tibet’s water resources has geopolitical implications. The Tibetan plateau is the source of crucial transboundary rivers that sustain lower riparian countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asian nations. By constructing dams in Tibet and other regions under its control, China is exerting strategic control over water supplies. Since 1986, it has built multiple dams on the Mekong River, significantly restricting downstream water flow. In 2019, despite above-average rainfall, China withheld water from the Mekong, leading to one of the worst droughts in decades in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. China’s dams in Yunnan province alone can block approximately 47 million cubic meters of water.

A similar scenario is unfolding with the Yarlung Tsangpo River, known as the Brahmaputra in India and Bangladesh. China has already built a 510-megawatt dam on this vital waterway and is constructing additional dams as part of its five-year plan. India has raised serious concerns that these dams could allow China to divert water toward its northern desert regions, significantly impacting water availability in India and Bangladesh, which depend on the Brahmaputra for 40% and 70% of their water needs, respectively. Moreover, China has withheld crucial hydrological data from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh, exacerbating fears over water security in the region.

As Tibet faces increasing environmental disasters, including rising earthquakes and extreme weather events, the impact extends beyond China and Tibetans—it threatens neighboring countries as well. The ongoing destruction of Tibet’s natural resources is not just a regional issue but a global concern. It is imperative that China acknowledges the severity of this environmental crisis and takes decisive action to halt the degradation of Tibet before it is too late.

Harsh Pandey is a PhD Candidate at the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.