)
Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit here this month, a Chinese state-run think tank has accused India of putting pressure on China to prevent it from using water resources in Tibet by building dams on the Brahmaputra.
"Chinese government acknowledges the water resource disputes, and predicts a potential intensified controversy, which, however, will not trigger political and military turbulence," an article in state-run Global Times said today.
The river waters issue is expected to figure prominently in the talks during Singh's scheduled visit to China from October 22, besides discussion on recurring incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory along the Sino-Indian border.
In the article titled 'Indian threat-mongering over water resource disputes dangerous fantasy', Li Zhefei of the National Institute of International Strategy, said disputes over water has become a contentious issue between the two countries which shares 16 major rivers.
He said the differences between the two countries are mainly triggered by utilisation of cross-border rivers.
"The feud over water resource allocation has sparked more claims in India that China poses a threat to the security of other countries. Moreover, India also relates the contention over water resources to its border dispute with China," the article said.
Li claimed India also assumes that Beijing's plans to build a number of dams on Brahmaputra river, known as Yarlung Zengbo in Tibet, poses a security threat, as China could raise water levels to cut off communications and drown Indian troops in the event of any hostility.
"India expects to put more pressure on China by exaggerating facts and drawing attention from the international community, with intention of preventing China from developing Tibetan water resources," the article said.
"China should firmly resist such remarks and actions, and actively seek to address disputes by following the principles of peaceful negotiation and cooperation," the article said.
