India is advancing plans for a mega dam in Arunachal Pradesh as a strategic countermeasure to China’s significant hydropower developments upstream in Tibet, notably the $167 billion Yaxia project. This proposed dam could generate up to 11,600 MW, significantly enhancing India’s energy capacity while addressing national security concerns over potential water manipulation by China. Local protests underscore cultural fears associated with the project, yet Indian officials assert the necessity of protecting downstream interests against what they perceive as a growing threat from China’s aggressive water resource policies. The situation highlights the geopolitical tensions in the region, emphasizing the importance of water security amid ongoing border disputes between the two nations.