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Doklam

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 121.219.136.85 (talk) at 01:05, 14 July 2017 (No need of citation for Donglang, because sources on this page confirm it and so does the Mandarin translation.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Doklam
Map of Bhutan showing disputed land with China. Doklam which is not pictured above is however marked on this map
Traditional Chinese洞朗
Simplified Chinese洞朗
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDòng lǎng

Doklam, Zhoglam[citation needed] (in Standard Tibetan), Droklam (in Dzongkha[citation needed] and Chomo Tibetan[citation needed]) or Donglang (Mandarin Chinese: 洞朗; pinyin: Dòng lǎng), is a narrow plateau lying in the tri-junction of Bhutan, China and India. It is a disputed territory claimed by both Bhutan and China. It is situated roughly 15 kilometers from the Nathu La pass that separates India and China. Doklam is part of the Chumbi Valley that lies primarily in Tibet. Doka La is a pass connecting the Indian state of Sikkim with Tibet in China.[1][2]

China and Bhutan have agreed via written agreements of 1988 and 1998 that both countries will agree to maintain peace and the status quo in the region.[3][4][5] In 2017, China attempted to build a road in a sector of Doklam triggering a stand-off between China and India and a demarche against China from Bhutan.[6]

2017 Doklam crisis

In June 2017, Doklam became the site of a stand-off between the armed forces of India and China, following an attempt by China to construct a road from Yadong to Doklam. Unlike China and Bhutan, India does not have a claim on Doklam; however, India supports Bhutan's claim on the territory. Official[clarification needed] sources have said, "China is believed to have not taken kindly to India building many new bunkers and upgrading older ones along the border in Sikkim in the recent past to augment its defences against the People's Liberation Army (PLA)."[7] In retaliation of India's prevention of road construction by China in the disputed area also claimed by China, the Chinese road building crew destroyed an Indian Army bunker in late June.[7]

In a 1949 treaty, Bhutan agreed to let India guide its foreign policy and defense affairs. In 2007, the treaty was superseded by a new friendship treaty that replaced the provision that made it mandatory for Bhutan to take India's guidance on foreign policy with broader sovereignty and not require Bhutan to obtain India's permission over arms imports.[8][9] Article 2 of the 2007 Friendship Treaty signed by India and Bhutan in 2007 states: “In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests.”[10] Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador of India to China, Nirupama Rao said about the dispute, "Bhutan and India enjoy the closest relationship of mutual trust and confidence and enduring friendship. There is absolutely no controversy about military-to-military cooperation and understanding between our two countries. India holds Bhutanese sovereignty as sacred and inviolable."[10] India and Bhutan voluntarily still maintain very strong comprehensive ties,[11][12][13][14] parts of which are focused at mutually countering aggression from China.[15] Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China.[16] Bhutan formally protested against China's incursion into its territory and sought India's help under the friendship treaty against Chinese incursion.[17] Near the disputed area inside Bhutan, India maintains an Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) and Indian Army Corps of Engineers' Border Roads Organisation has built over 15 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) roads, airports, helipads, etc. for Bhutan's defence and transport.[18][19][20] Ambassador of Bhutan to India Vetsop Namgyel stated, "Doklam is a disputed territory and Bhutan has a written agreement with China that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, peace and tranquillity should be maintained in the area." China has violated this 'peace agreement' by trying to construct roads in Doklam.[21]

India has criticized China for "crossing the border" and attempting to construct a road (allegedly done "illegally"), while China has criticized India for entering its "territory".[16]

On June 29, 2017, Bhutan protested to China against the construction of a road in the disputed territory.[22] On the same day, the Bhutanese border was put on high alert and border security was tightened as a result of the growing tensions.[23] On the same day, China released a map claiming that Doklam and parts of Sikkim belonged to China. China claimed, via the map, that territory up until Gipmochi belonged to China and claimed it was supported by the 1890 Britain-China treaty.[24] On July 3, 2017 China told India that former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru accepted the 1890 Britain-China treaty.[25] China claimed on July 5, 2017 it had for the past 24 months a "basic consensus" with Bhutan that Doklam belonged to China, and there was no dispute between the two countries.[26] Contrary to Chinese claim, Nehru’s 26th September 1959 letter to Zhou, cited by China, was a point-by-point refutation of the claims made by the latter on September 8, 1959. Nehru made is amply clear in his refutal that the 1890 treaty defined only the northern part of the Sikkim-Tibet border and not the tri-junction area. Nehru wrote, “rectification of errors in Chinese maps regarding the boundary of Bhutan with Tibet is therefore a matter which has to be discussed along with the boundary of India with the Tibet region of China in the same sector." The Chinese had quoted Nehru's statement out of context, as Nehru in his reply had made it clear boundaries of Sikkim and Bhutan did not fall within the scope of the discussion, “This Convention of 1890 also defined the boundary between Sikkim and Tibet; and the boundary was later, in 1895, demarcated. There is thus no dispute regarding the boundary of Sikkim with the Tibet region.”[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dutta, Sujan (5 July 2017). "Sikkim standoff: Doka La incursions betray Chinese intentions of getting behind Indian, Bhutanese defences". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2017-07-05 suggested (help); Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Sikkim standoff: China releases 'map' to prove its claim over tri-junction border". 1 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Press Release – Ministry of Foreign Affairs". www.mfa.gov.bt. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  4. ^ greenmindz.com. "Bhutan-China talks end in agreement - Bhutan Observer". www.bhutanobserver.bt. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  5. ^ "India enters into Bhutan-China border conflict – Bhutan News Network". www.bhutannewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Press Release – Ministry of Foreign Affairs". www.mfa.gov.bt. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  7. ^ a b Staff (28 June 2017). "Indian bunker in Sikkim removed by China: Sources". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Asia Times Online
  9. ^ Tribune India
  10. ^ a b Devirupa Mitra, Six Expert Views on How India Should Look at the Latest Border Stand-Off With China, The Wire, 05 July 2017.
  11. ^ "India's Modi heads to Bhutan to woo neighbours". Channel NewsAsia. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  12. ^ "India, Bhutan to enhance economic ties as PM Modi pitches for 'B2B' links". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  13. ^ "Modi inaugurates Bhutan's Supreme Court building". Business Standard. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  14. ^ "Bhutan Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi". NDTV. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  15. ^ Rajeev Sharma. "NE terror, China: What's on PM Modi's Bhutan trip agenda?". Firstpost. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  16. ^ a b Som, Vishnu (29 June 2017). Shukla, Shuchi (ed.). "At Heart Of India-China Standoff, A Road Being Built: 10 Points". NDTV. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Smriti Jain, India China standoff over Bhutan Doklam region: Is a 1962-like war on the cards, as claimed by Chinese media?, The Financial Express, 5 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Dantak". Border Roads Organisation. Government of India. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  19. ^ "Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), Bhutan". Indian Army. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  20. ^ Choden, Tashi (Winter 2004). "Indo-Bhutan Relations Recent Trends" (PDF). Journal of Bhutan Studies. 11 (6). Centre for Bhutan Studies: 119. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  21. ^ Sikkim standoff: Beijing should realise Bhutan is as important to India as North Korea is to China, First Post, 30 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Bhutan protests against China's road construction". The Straits Times. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  23. ^ "Bhutan issues scathing statement against China, claims Beijing violated border agreements of 1988, 1998". Firstpost. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  24. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: China releases new map showing territorial claims at stand-off site". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  25. ^ "Nehru Accepted 1890 Treaty; India Using Bhutan to Cover up Entry: China". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  26. ^ PTI (5 July 2017). "No dispute with Bhutan in Doklam: China". Retrieved 6 July 2017 – via The Economic Times.
  27. ^ A.S. Nazir Ahamad, Did Nehru really accept the Sino-British Treaty as final word on the border issue?, The Hindu, 4 July 2017.


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