Overlooking crucial Siliguri Corridor of India, Doklam (Donglang, or Donglang Caochang, meaning Donglang grazing field in Chinese) is both a high plateau and a valley in West Bhutan.
China claims Doklam as an extension of its very own Chumbi Valley, which, as the map shows, is "the wedge of land that lies between Bhutan, and Indian province of Sikkim".
Upping the ante three years ago, in 2020, Beijing asserted ownership of the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in eastern Bhutan and borders India's Arunachal Pradesh, which, Beijing claims as a part of its Southern Tibet.
It is possible that asserting rights over the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is part of China's strategy to pressure Bhutan and take over Doklam. With the Bamboo Capitalist, nothing can be ruled out.
STAND OFF IN 2017
Doklam witnessed a 73-day-long standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in 2017 with New Delhi concerned over protecting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Also, because Bhutan ceding land to China will impact its security interests especially in the Siliguri Corridor.
The ground situation is slightly different this time though. But India is not taking any chances, going by reports from the Siliguri Corridor. Known as 'Chicken's neck', the 68-km long corridor is India's lifeline to reach its eight northeastern states that share border with either China or Myanmar or both.
This strategically significant area also connects India with Bangladesh and Nepal. And is guarded by its border sentinels, Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB). Now the Narendra Modi government is likely to deploy armed police forces as well to be in readiness 'to tackle any conflict situation between crucial stakeholders, India, China, and Bhutan.'
Like with all its other neighbours, with Bhutan also, China has a long pestering border dispute. According to information in the public domain, which is not disputed by Beijing, Sino-Bhutan dispute started after PLA troops occupied Tibet in 1950, and subsequently seized control over eight Bhutanese enclaves in Tibet.
China claims about 764 sq. km of Bhutan, but in the vexed boundary talks that began in 1984 primary focus has been on the Jakarlung and Pasamlung areas (both in North Bhutan) besides the Doklam area.
So far, the two countries have held over 24 rounds of border talks and 12 rounds of expert-level meetings. A joint press release issued after the latest round in August-end (between 21 and 24 August, to be precise) has described the talks as candid, constructive and friendly. It went on to say that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was reached "aimed at the three-step roadmap".
"One of the important outcomes of the 13th Expert Group Meeting (EGM) is the establishment of the Joint Technical Team on the Delimitation of China-Bhutan Boundary which held its first meeting on the sidelines of the 13th EGM," said the statement adding that both sides have simultaneously agreed to accelerate the process to implement the road map "for expediting boundary negotiations in a warm and cordial atmosphere".
The road map has not been elaborated as such as yet.
Since the seventh round of talks held in 1990, China has been pushing a "package proposal". It is in essence a trade-off of sorts - China would give up its 495 sq. km of claim in Northern Bhutan. In return Bhutan should recognise China's claims in western Bhutan that includes Doklam.
Expectedly, the Bhutan Parliament (National Assembly) has shot down the proposal.
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