Even as Indian and Chinese troops disengage in Ladakh after the worst border skirmish between the two countries in decades, the aftershock...
Even as Indian and Chinese troops disengage in Ladakh after the worst border skirmish between the two countries in decades, the aftershocks are being felt in Bhutan, sandwiched between the two Asian giants.
Last week, the Chinese government included Bhutan’s “eastern sectors” as part of the disputed areas between the two countries. “There have been disputes over the eastern, central and western sectors for a long time,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.
A ‘shocking’ claim
The Chinese claims, political commentators in Bhutan say, came from “out of the blue” and were a “shock” to the Bhutanese administration. The two countries have been engaged in border talks since 1984. They have reportedly never discussed the eastern sectors as the Chinese allegedly did not lay claim to it.
The Chinese assertion follows its attempt last month to stop funding to the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, located in far-eastern Bhutan, from the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility. The United States-based global body funds environmental projects. China claimed the sanctuary was situated in “disputed territory”.
Bhutan, news reports said, issued a démarche – the two countries do not share a diplomatic relationship – to the Chinese government in protest. The Chinese have refused to back down.
The India connection
Observers say China’s move may be linked to...
