China and Bhutan are working to resolve their boundary disagreement as quickly as possible. This could impact India. Bhutan’s foreign minister, Tandi Dorji, met with Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, in Beijing on October 23. Dorji conveyed that Thimphu is prepared to finalise the boundary discussions and accelerate the establishment of diplomatic relations with China.
Questions arise regarding the nature of the border dispute between China and Bhutan, and why these negotiations might worry India.
Key Points
- China and Bhutan share a border that spans 477 kilometres.
- This boundary dispute started in 1950 when China took control of Tibet and did not acknowledge the border between Tibet and Bhutan.
- In 1959, during a crackdown on a Tibetan uprising, China seized eight Bhutanese territories in Tibet.
- Bhutan and China initiated discussions on the boundary dispute in 1984.
- The talks have primarily concentrated on three disputed areas: Jakarlung and Pasamlung in northern Bhutan, and Doklam in western Bhutan.
- In 2017, a heated standoff took place between Indian and Chinese troops over an area called Doklam. The dispute lasted two months.
- The dispute began when Beijing started building a road towards an important ridge line known as Jampheri.
- India sees Doklam as part of Bhutan, while Beijing views it as an extension of its own Chumbi Valley. The Chumbi Valley is located between Sikkim and Bhutan.
- Fast forward to June 2020, Beijing laid claim over the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is in eastern Bhutan and it borders Arunachal Pradesh.
- Reports also suggest that China has constructed several villages inside Bhutan’s territory.
Why Bhutan-China Border Talks Concern India
- Doklam is crucial for India’s security.
- If China controls Doklam, it could endanger the Siliguri Corridor.
- The Siliguri Corridor, also known as Chicken’s Neck, is a 22 km stretch that links India to the Northeast.
- It also connects India with Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
- New Delhi is apprehensive about a possible deal between Thimphu and Beijing, which may involve trading Doklam for disputed territories in the north.
- Doklam is near the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China, specifically at a place called Batang La.
- China aims to move this trijunction point to Mount Gipmochi, located 7 km south of Batang La.
- This move is not acceptable to New Delhi because it would bring the entire Doklam plateau under Beijing’s control.
- China is claiming ownership of the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which India sees as pressure on Bhutan to surrender Doklam.
- India is already dealing with challenges related to Chinese projects and funding in other neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
- If China gains a foothold in Bhutan, a small country, it could pose additional problems for India.