India's Concerns stemming from Bhutan-China relations

India's Concerns stemming from Bhutan-China relations

Important for Prelims Exam:

Siliguri Corridor and Doklam Plateau, Jakarlung Valley, Pasmalumug Valley, Chumbi Valley, Ha Valley, Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas, Nathu La Pass

Important for Mains Exam:

GS2: Impact of Bhutan-China diplomatic relations on India, Bhutan-China border dispute, India's strategy to deal with Bhutan-China Border dispute

October 27, 2023

Why in News:

  • Recently, China and Bhutan held the 25th round of border talks and signed a cooperation agreement related to the demarcation of the Bhutan-China border. For this agreement, Bhutan's Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji has visited China for the first time. India's security concerns have increased due to this agreement.

Purpose of this Agreement:

  • According to the 'three-step roadmap' launched in 2021, the Bhutanese and Chinese territories are to be clearly delineated, including table discussions, on-site visits and formal demarcation.
  • The Bhutan–China border dispute mainly concerns the Doklam Plateau and the India-China-Bhutan trijunction as well as the Jakarlung and Pasmalumug valleys.

Significance of the 25th round of China-Bhutan border talks:

The visit of Bhutan's Foreign Minister to China is unprecedented and important on many levels:

  • This dialogue is likely to make diplomatic relations between China and Bhutan more stable than before because diplomatic relations between the two countries have been poor for the last few decades due to the Bhutan-China border dispute since 2016.
  • This dialogue will speed up the resolution of the ongoing border dispute between the two countries.

Bhutan-China Border Dispute

  • There is a dispute going on between China and Bhutan since the 80s regarding the approximately 477 km long border. The biggest dispute between the two countries is over the area of 269 square kilometer Doklam and 495 square kilometer Jakarlung and Passamlung valley in the north of Bhutan.

Doklam Area:

Geographical location:

  • Doklam is a high plateau area. The region is bordered by the Chumbi Valley of China in the north, Ha Valley of Bhutan in the east, Darjeeling and Kalimpong region in the southwest. The Indian state of Sikkim is situated to its west.
  • This place is just 30 kilometers away from Siliguri.

Political and strategic status:

  • At present Doklam is a disputed area. China has authority over this area. China has been showing it as its possession on the map of Bhutan since 1961. Whereas Bhutan considers it as its territory.
  • Bhutan has a written agreement with China regarding this area, according to which it has been talked about maintaining peace in this area.
  • Despite several rounds of border talks between Bhutan and China, the dispute has not been resolved.

India's concerns:

  • India, given its special relations with Bhutan, has been very cautious about the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations and signing a boundary agreement.

Threat to change Doklam:

  • There are concerns in India that the agreement between Bhutan and China could include the exchange of Doklam, located near the tri-junction between India, Bhutan and China, for disputed areas in the north.

Doklam is of utmost security importance for India:

  • China's control over the region could threaten the Siliguri Corridor, a 22 km long stretch connecting the Indian mainland to the northeast.
  • Siliguri Corridor, also known as Chicken Neck, connects India with Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Direct threat on India's eastern border:

  • By taking control of Doklam, China can put more pressure on India; Chinese forces can easily cut off India's contact with the eastern part of their disputed border.

India-China Doklam Dispute

  • It is located at the triangular junction of India, Tibet and Bhutan. Doklam is an area of strategic importance for India.
  • It is near Nathu La Pass. India's Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage passing through Nathula Pass has been stopped by China.
  • In June 2017, China's attempt to build a road southwards on the Doklam Plateau towards the Zampheri Ridge Line near the Doka La Pass led to a military standoff between China and India, which lasted for two months.
  • India considers the Doklam Plateau to be the undisputed territory of Bhutan, while Beijing considers it an extension of its Chumbi Valley, which lies between Sikkim and Bhutan.

Claiming Bhutan's territories to put pressure on India:

  • In June 2020, Beijing asserted its claim over the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in eastern Bhutan and borders Arunachal Pradesh.
  • China has also reportedly built several villages inside Bhutanese territory.
  • India believes that China's claim on Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is its way of pressurizing Bhutan to hand over Doklam.

India's strategy to Deal with Border Disputes

  • Construction Activities: As part of the strategy to secure the borders and create infrastructure in the border areas of the country, several initiatives have been taken by the Border Management Division. These include: Construction of fences, floodlighting, roads, Border Out Posts (BOPs), Company Operating Bases (COBs) and deployment of technical solutions along the India-Pakistan, India-Bangladesh, India-China, India-Nepal, India-Bhutan and India-Myanmar borders.
  • Other development projects: Projects like Trans-Arunachal Highway will help in enhancing effective and prompt response against China's aggression.
  • The Border Roads Organization (BRO) completed more than 100 projects in the border areas, most of which were close to the border with China.
  • India is accelerating work on the Nimu-Padma-Darcha axis which will help troops move to Ladakh from other parts of the country.
  • However, this will take time; Till then we have to be prepared to deal with its aggression on the LAC in an 'armed co-existence' scenario.
  • Troop deployment and surveillance: The Indian Army and BSF have been deployed in multiple layers to create an anti-infiltration grid.
  • The deployment of border fencing and other surveillance equipment has helped in reducing infiltration.
  • Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar borders: Our borders with these countries are guarded primarily by paramilitary forces, and they have to deal with human trafficking, drugs, weapons, illegal migration and movement of suspected insurgents.
  • Open borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar and open borders with Nepal pose challenges in combating these nefarious activities.

Conclusion:

  • India needs to be diplomatically aware of China's border expansion policy regarding this Bhutan-China border talks.
  • Because the resolution of the dispute over Doklam is linked to the conflict on the common border between China and India and particularly the status of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as an extension of South Tibet.

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Main Exam Question

Discuss India's concerns arising from the Bhutan-China border talks. What strategy should India adopt to resolve its border disputes in the eastern sector? Discuss.