{"id":44319,"date":"2024-01-05T22:32:32","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T22:32:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/india-china-eye-strategic-areas-bordering-last-barrier-bhutan\/"},"modified":"2024-01-05T22:32:32","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T22:32:32","slug":"india-china-eye-strategic-areas-bordering-last-barrier-bhutan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/india-china-eye-strategic-areas-bordering-last-barrier-bhutan\/","title":{"rendered":"India, China eye strategic areas bordering \u2018last barrier\u2019 Bhutan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<p>Squeezed between giant arch-rivals India and China, the landlocked mountain kingdom of Bhutan was long isolated by icy Himalayan peaks.<\/p>\n<p>But as Bhutan readies to elect a new parliament in Thimphu on January 9, China and India are watching the contest with keen interest as they eye strategic contested border zones, analysts warn.<\/p>\n<p>A \u201ccooperation agreement\u201d inked between Bhutan and China in October after talks over their disputed northern frontier sparked concern in India, which has long regarded Bhutan as a buffer state firmly under its orbit.<\/p>\n<p>Bhutan is \u201cone of the last barriers\u201d in China\u2019s bid to exert influence in South Asia, said Harsh V. Pant, an international relations professor at King\u2019s College London told <em>AFP<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>India is determined not to let China extend its influence further across what New Delhi sees as its natural sphere of influence, wary after a swathe of muscular trade deals and loans by Beijing, including with Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1669212\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Thimphu and Beijing do not have formal diplomatic relations. India, however, effectively oversaw Bhutan\u2019s foreign policy until 2007.<\/p>\n<p>The relationship was \u201cin exchange for free-trade and security arrangements\u201d, Britain\u2019s Chatham House think tank <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link--external\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chathamhouse.org\/publications\/the-world-today\/2023-12\/china-takes-more-land-bhutan-expected-border-deal\">wrote<\/a> in a December report.<\/p>\n<p>The report included satellite photographs it said showed an \u201cunsanctioned programme of settlement construction\u201d by China in Bhutan\u2019s northern frontier region, which could \u201cbecome permanent Chinese territory\u201d pending the outcome of a border deal.<\/p>\n<p>China\u2019s foreign ministry told <em>AFP<\/em> in a statement of its \u201cdetermination to strive for an early resolution of the boundary issue and the establishment of diplomatic relations\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"far-reaching-implications\" href=\"#far-reaching-implications\" class=\"heading-permalink\" aria-hidden=\"true\" title=\"Permalink\"\/>\u2018Far-reaching implications\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cBeijing will anticipate that a deal consolidating its gains in northern Bhutan may lead to formal diplomatic relations and the opportunity to draw Thimphu into its orbit\u201d, Chatham House said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny such deal would have far-reaching implications for India.\u201d If China succeeds in that, Beijing \u201ccan push a view that India is now marginal in its immediate neighbourhood\u201d, Pant added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1563923\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>New Delhi has been wary of Beijing\u2019s growing military assertiveness and their 3,500-kilometre (2,175-mile) shared frontier has been a perennial source of tension.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017, there was a 72-day military standoff after Chinese forces moved into the disputed Doklam plateau, on the China-India-Bhutan border.<\/p>\n<p>The plateau pushes south towards India\u2019s critical Siliguri Corridor, dubbed the \u201cChicken\u2019s Neck\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The perilously narrow strip of land lies between Nepal and Bangladesh, and connects India\u2019s northeastern states with the rest of the country.<\/p>\n<p>China and India fought a month-long war in the region in 1962.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNew Delhi would be concerned that, in the event of a deal demarcating Bhutan\u2019s northern border, attention may turn to territory in Bhutan\u2019s west which China disputes, including the Doklam plateau,\u201d Chatham House added.<\/p>\n<p>For Bhutan, dwarfed by China, striking a deal makes sense, said Pant.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf they don\u2019t resolve their border now, tomorrow they will be in an even more unfavourable position,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"quiet-concern\" href=\"#quiet-concern\" class=\"heading-permalink\" aria-hidden=\"true\" title=\"Permalink\"\/>\u2018Quiet concern\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Suhasini Haidar, diplomatic editor of <em>The Hindu<\/em> newspaper, said India was worried that a Bhutan-China border deal \u201cseems imminent\u201d.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1737412\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>She said that Bhutan\u2019s \u201cfast-tracking\u201d of boundary talks with China after the 2017 Doklam standoff was a decision that \u201cIndia has viewed with quiet concern\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts say foreign policy plays little role in the domestic concerns of voters in Bhutan \u2014 about the size of Switzerland with around 800,000 people \u2014 who are more worried about high unemployment and young people migrating abroad seeking jobs.<\/p>\n<p>However, India is the biggest source of investment and infrastructure in Bhutan \u2014 Thimphu\u2019s ngultrum currency is pegged to New Delhi\u2019s rupee \u2014 and boosting bilateral relations is key.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny government coming to power will seek to shore up ties,\u201d Haidar said.<br \/>\nBhutan has strong economic and strategic relations with India, \u201cparticularly as its major trading partner, source of foreign aid and as a financier and buyer of surplus hydropower\u201d, according to the World Bank. About 70 per cent of Bhutan\u2019s imports come from India.<\/p>\n<p>In December, Bhutan\u2019s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced a special economic zone along its border with India.<\/p>\n<p>Both hopefuls to become Bhutan\u2019s new prime minister speak enthusiastically about boosting links with New Delhi to lift Bhutan\u2019s $3 billion economy.<\/p>\n<p>India has already announced a slew of connectivity projects including a railway line to Bhutan, but much would depend on Indian investors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBhutan will be seeking investments from other countries,\u201d said Haidar, adding it will be \u201csignificant\u201d if Thimphu welcomes funds from China.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Squeezed between giant arch-rivals India and China, the landlocked mountain kingdom of Bhutan was long isolated by icy Himalayan peaks. But as Bhutan readies to elect a new parliament in Thimphu on January 9, China and India are watching the contest with keen interest as they eye strategic contested border zones, analysts warn. A \u201ccooperation [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44320,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/large\/2024\/01\/0511012468bae0a.png?r=110830","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pakistan"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44319"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44319\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}