China's Weaponization of Water in Tibet: A Lesson for the Lower Riparian States.

Tibet, dubbed "Asia's water tower," boasts eight major transboundary river systems, including the Brahmaputra, Indus, and Mekong rivers, vital to three billion people in South and Southeast Asia. As an upper riparian state, China has contemplated dam construction and river diversion since 1989. Driven by internal economic motives and aspirations for regional dominance, China seeks to control water flow, impacting lower riparian states such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. With approximately 87,000 dams built, China poses a historic threat, having already dammed most internal rivers. This article examines China's potential weaponization of Tibetan water, offering insights for lower riparian states to prepare for contingencies and devise long- term strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]