The dam will surpass the Three Gorges Dam, generating three times the energy and is expected to cost $12 billion. Beijing claims the project will enhance local prosperity while prioritizing ecological protection. However, officials in Arunachal Pradesh, India, worry about possible water scarcity and flood risks from the dam. India has urged China for transparency regarding the dam's impacts on downstream nations. The dam's construction, set in Tibet's deepest canyon, has also raised alarms about natural resource exploitation and impacts on local communities. Recent protests against similar projects in Tibet have highlighted community dissent.

China's commitment to hydropower aims to meet its increasing energy demands but has drawn criticism for its environmental and social ramifications.

The controversial project is poised to reshape regional water dynamics, especially for the millions relying on the rivers influenced by the Yarlung Tsangpo.