AMN
The country of most happiest people of the world, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, is under grave threat of Chinese aggressive behaviour. India compelled to step in for cooling temperature and has urged both countries to be restraint and show responsible behaviour.
MAP OF BHUTAN
In a consequent action, China also denied entry to hundreds of Indian pilgrims thru Sikkim’s Nathu La pass from going to one of their most revered shrines in Tibet. The route was agreed during Xi Jinping’s India visit in 2014. Stopping this people-centric initiative has left hundreds of common people stranded.
Meanwhile, in view of the many queries raised recently in the media regarding the Bhutan – China boundary in the Doklam area the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan has conveyed the following statement:
On 16th June 2017, the Chinese Army started constructing a motorable road from Dokola in the Doklam area towards the Bhutan Army camp at Zompelri. Boundary talks are ongoing between Bhutan and China and we have written agreements of 1988 and 1998 stating that the two sides agree to maintain peace and tranquility in their border areas pending a final settlement on the boundary question, and to maintain status quo on the boundary as before March 1959. The agreements also state that the two sides will refrain from taking unilateral action, or use of force, to change the status quo of the boundary.
Bhutan has conveyed to the Chinese side, both on the ground and through the diplomatic channel, that the construction of the road inside Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the agreements and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between our two countries. Bhutan hopes that the status quo in the Doklam area will be maintained as before 16 June 2017.
Reacting to China’s contention, the India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was essential that all parties concerned display utmost restraint and abide by their respective bilateral understandings not to change the status quo unilaterally.
It is also important that the consensus reached between India and China through the Special Representatives process is scrupulously respected by both sides, the ministry added.
“India is deeply concerned at the recent Chinese actions and has conveyed to the Chinese government that such construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India,” MEA asserted in a press release.
The ministry also narrated the sequence of events since June 16 when a PLA construction party entered the Doklam area and attempted to construct a road.
“In coordination with the Royal Government of Bhutan, Indian personnel, who were present at general area Doka La, approached the Chinese construction party and urged them to desist from changing the status quo. These efforts continue,” the ministry said. In keeping with their tradition of maintaining close consultation on matters of mutual interest, Bhutan and India had been in continuous contact through the unfolding of these developments, it said.
As far as the boundary in the Sikkim sector was concerned, India and China had reached an understanding in 2012 reconfirming their mutual agreement on the “basis of the alignment”, the ministry said. Further discussions regarding finalization of the boundary have been taking place under the Special Representatives framework, it added.
India’s reaction follows a face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the area, prompting Beijing to take a tough stance and demand withdrawal of Indian troops from the Sikkim sector as a precondition for “meaningful dialogue” to resolve the situation.