Tens of thousands of farmers stage a sit-in against the construction of the Pubugou dam on the Dadu River in Sichuan Province, China. Riot police are deployed to quell the unrest and one person is killed. Witnesses also report the deaths of a number of residents.
A 2004 Pentagon report on China’s military capacity raises the concept of Taipei adopting military systems capable of being used as a tool for deterring Chinese military coercion by “presenting credible threats to China’s urban population or high-value targets, such as the Three Gorges Dam.” China promptly denounces “a U.S. suggestion’ that Taiwan’s Military target the Three Gorges dam, leading the US to deny that it had so urged.
Chinese authorities execute a man who took part in protests against the Pubugou dam in Sichuan province in 2004 (see China 2004 entry). Chen Tao is convicted of killing a policeman, but is executed before legal appeals are completed.
China launches a political crackdown in Tibet. At least some observers have noted the importance of Tibet for the water resources of China, though the political complications between Tibet and China extend far beyond water. As noted: “Tibet is referred to in some circles as the “world’s water tower’ ; the Tibetan plateau is home to vast reserves of glaciated water, the sources of 10 of the largest rivers in Asia, including the Yellow, Yangtze, Mekong, Brahmaputra, Salween, Hindus and…
Without previous warning, North Korea releases 40 million cubic meters of water from the Hwanggag dam, causing a flash flood on the Imjin River. In South Korea, at least 6 fisherman and campers are drowned. North Korea claims that the water had to be urgently released and promises to warn the South of future releases. South Korea fears that North Korea could use the water of the dam as a weapon during a violent conflict.
In July, thousands of protesters take to the streets in Qidong, Jiangsu Province to challenge a pipeline from a Japanese owned paper factory that would discharge contaminated wastewater into the sea, potentially pollute a nearby fishery, and contaminate drinking water. Demonstrators clash with police and there are reports of damages to government buildings, cars, and other property. Fourteen people plead guilty to encouraging the riot in which dozens of police are injured and the local Communist party chief is stripped…
Hundreds of Uyghurs are arrested following an attack on May 20th that led to the death of seven Han Chinese workers building a dam on the Karakash River in Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian) prefecture’s Karakash (Moyu) county, China. Local officials ascribe the violence to land and water disputes and cultural differences between Han immigrants [to Xinjiang] and Uyghurs.
North Korea releases flood waves from the Hwachon Dam damaging floating bridges operated by UN troops in the Pukhan Valley. The US Navy then sends planes to destroy the spillway crest gates.
The US bombardment of the Japanese-occupied island in June 1944 targets water supply points, resulting in severe shortages.
China launches a political crackdown in Tibet. At least some observers have noted the importance of Tibet for the water resources of China, though the political complications between Tibet and China extend far beyond water. As noted: “Tibet is referred to in some circles as the “world’s water tower’ ; the Tibetan plateau is home to vast reserves of glaciated water, the sources of 10 of the largest rivers in Asia, including the Yellow, Yangtze, Mekong, Brahmaputra, Salween, Hindus and…