A Case of “Extreme Nationalism”
China’s planned transboundary Yarlung Tsangpo megadam is less about energy demand and conservation and more a case of “extreme nationalism,” a new report argues.
By Probe International
China’s penchant for megadams is fueled by an extreme and dangerous nationalism in the relentless pursuit of global hydropower dominance for its own sake, according to a new report by the renowned German-based hydrology expert Wang Weiluo.
In this richly detailed study of one of China’s greatest vanity projects—the Three Gorges Dam—Wang uncovers a fierce rivalry between the Yangtze River behemoth and fellow giant, the Itaipú Dam at the border of Brazil and Paraguay.
Three Gorges has undergone multiple expansions over the years to ensure its predecessor Itaipú would not reclaim its crown as the world’s number one. Despite immense cost socially, environmentally and economically to maintain its lead, Three Gorges nevertheless has not managed to outrank Itaipú for efficiency and power output per turbine. Surely, key measures of a dam’s success?
Now a new rival threatens China’s world record: the Grand Inga Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo, adding another layer to the ongoing global hydropower race. Rising to the challenge, China is set to counter Grand Inga with a Three Gorges “super successor”—the transboundary Lower Yarlung Tsangpo Hydropower Project in occupied Tibet.
As Wang Weiluo documents, unbelievably, Yarlung Tsangpo’s undertaking is not necessary to fulfill energy demand or to accelerate renewable energy development. The impetus is, as before, to stay number one.
Wang contends that China’s race-to-the-top “extreme nationalism” has evolved from ancient Confucian hierarchical culture, which positioned China as the world’s central, resource-rich civilization surrounded by “barbarians” and “savages.” In the contemporary context, Wang explains this nationalism manifests as a political drive to become the foremost global power, often at the expense of other nations and even Chinese citizens, as seen in the displacement of over a million people by Three Gorges Dam.
He likens this form of nationalism to selfishness, devoid of consideration for others, and disregarding values such as non-violence, adherence to international law, and international cooperation through treaties. A form of political warfare below the threshold of armed conflict, “extreme nationalism” extends beyond China’s hydropower ambitions to its territorial aggression in the South China Sea, and around the world through espionage and influence operations.
The full report by Wang Weiluo (in two parts) is available to read or download here: https://journal.probeinternational.org/2025/02/20/a-case-of-extreme-nationalism/
The image for this piece was created by generative AI.