How did Li Peng help win approval for the Three Gorges Dam?

Li Peng, who had trained as an engineer, was instrumental in securing the approval for the Three Gorges Dam. After the project had faced nearly 40 years of delays due to significant concerns regarding environmental impact, displacement of residents, and potential structural risks, Li Peng successfully persuaded the National People’s Congress to ratify the decision to build the dam in 1992.1

This approval was notable for the level of resistance it faced; nearly one-third of the members of the National People’s Congress either abstained or voted against the project, which was considered an unprecedented sign of dissent for the body. Following this legislative victory, construction on the dam officially commenced in 1994.12