Hydro-diplomacy on the Brahmaputra: examining the interplay of water, territorial claims, and infrastructure

The Brahmaputra is frequently discussed as a location of future water conflict between China and India. This paper shows that the risks of conflict over water are in fact low, because China functionally contributes less to the Brahmaputra’s flow than is often perceived and the river’s water contributes little to India’s water security challenges. However, both countries use water infrastructure as a signal of territorial control. Although opportunities exist for the Brahmaputra to serve as a source of regional cooperation, it will more likely continue to be used by both India and China in competition for regional geopolitical influence.