Why was the 1992 vote on the Three Gorges Dam unusual?

The 1992 vote by the National People’s Congress to approve the construction of the Three Gorges Dam was considered unusual because it displayed an unprecedented level of resistance from a body that is typically acquiescent.1

Nearly one-third of the members either abstained or voted against the project, signaling significant internal opposition to the massive engineering endeavor. This dissent occurred despite the efforts of Premier Li Peng—who championed the project—to secure its ratification.1