China's Entry into Teesta Project: A New Geopolitical Challenge for India
As Bangladesh intensifies its engagement with Beijing over the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, the hydro-politics of the region are shifting. Recent high-level discussions in Beijing between Bangladesh’s leadership and Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, signal a significant move to involve China in the management of a river that has long been a point of contention between India and Bangladesh.
The Scope of the China-Bangladesh Teesta Proposal
The proposed Teesta project is an ambitious infrastructure undertaking aimed at transforming the river into an economic artery for northern Bangladesh. Following an MoU extension signed in January 2024 between the Bangladesh Water Development Board and the state-owned POWERCHINA, the project seeks to address severe issues of flood management and water scarcity.
The technical details of the Chinese proposal are extensive. It includes the dredging of 140 million cubic metres of sediment, the reclamation of 171 square km of land, and the construction of 124 km of new embankments alongside 110 km of repairs to existing ones. Additionally, the plan involves developing a 224 km road network and 82 jetty facilities. While China emphasizes that this is a lower-riparian project that will not disrupt upstream flows in India, the scale of Chinese involvement in such a sensitive transboundary river is significant.
The Teesta Dilemma: Irrigation vs. Hydro-Power
For Bangladesh, the Teesta is a lifeline for agriculture in districts like Rangpur, Dinajpur, and Bogura. The primary grievance from Dhaka is the drastic reduction in water levels during the winter months (December to February), which cripples the Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project (TBIP).
For India, the Teesta is equally vital but for different reasons. Originating in Sikkim, the river supports at least six major hydroelectric projects and serves essential irrigation needs through the Gajoldoba barrage in West Bengal. The management of these upstream waters is a matter of both regional energy security and domestic political sensitivity, particularly in West Bengal, where state-level concerns have historically prevented a final water-sharing treaty between New Delhi and Dhaka.
China’s Growing Footprint in South Asian Water Diplomacy
China’s interest in the Teesta project is not merely developmental; it is strategic. As a global leader in dam construction and water resource management, China is leveraging its expertise to deepen its influence in the Bay of Bengal region. By stepping into a vacuum left by stalled bilateral negotiations between India and Bangladesh, Beijing is positioning itself as a key stakeholder in the hydro-politics of South Asia.
While India previously offered to finance a $1 billion project to manage the Teesta in Bangladesh, the shift toward Chinese state-owned enterprises suggests a pivot in Dhaka's strategic balancing act.
What It Means for India
- Strategic Encroachment: China’s direct involvement in the management of a river that originates in India and flows through West Bengal introduces a third-party actor into a traditional bilateral security and resource issue, potentially complicating India's neighborhood policy.
- Hydro-Diplomacy Pressure: The advancement of the Chinese-backed project may increase pressure on New Delhi to resolve the long-standing Teesta water-sharing deadlock to prevent Bangladesh from becoming more dependent on Chinese infrastructure and technical standards.
- Security and Connectivity Implications: The integration of Chinese-built roads, jetties, and land reclamation projects along a major riverine artery could enhance Chinese logistical footprints in a region critical to India's "Act East" policy and its connectivity with the Northeast.