New Delhi: Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lotte Sharing’s statement on the Doklam dispute has increased concern. He said that China also has an equal right to resolve the Doklam Controversy. Doklam Plateau is located on India, China and Bhutan. Tensions have been high between the three countries since the 2017 Doklam standoff. The PM of Bhutan said, “Solving the problem does not depend on Bhutan alone. We are three countries. There is no big or small country. All three are the same countries. He further said that China has not settled any village in the border of Bhutan. He also said that China also has an equal right to find a solution to the Doklam border dispute. Let it be said that India believes that China has occupied that area, in such a situation this latest statement of the Prime Minister of Bhutan can create new difficulties.
China has built villages and roads inside Bhutanese territory near Doklam. This step of China is creating challenges for India. India is opposing China’s expansion due to its construction in Doklam near the strategic Siliguri Corridor. Lotte Schering’s statement suggests that the dispute over the tri-junction at Doklam should be resolved through discussions between India, China and Bhutan. China wants to move the tri-junction to a peak called Mount Jipmochi, 7 km from Batangas La. It is situated in the south. If this happens, the Doklam plateau will legally become part of China.
Bhutan cannot resolve border dispute alone’
Bhutan’s Prime Minister said his country cannot resolve the border dispute alone. He said, ‘We are three countries. No country is big or small. There are three identical countries. In such a situation each has a one-third share. In fact, so far based on satellite photographs it is said that China has established 10 villages within the border of Bhutan. Now that Bhutan’s Prime Minister himself has said that China has not encroached on his territory, it has become difficult for India to take a firm stand on the matter.
Why Bhutan’s statement is a setback for India
The talk of China’s participation in finding a solution to the Doklam dispute by Bhutan’s PM is being considered as a big blow for India. India has opposed China’s incursion into Doklam from the beginning, as the area is strategically close to the highly sensitive Siliguri Corridor. It is a narrow strip of land that separates the northeastern states of India from the rest of the country. China’s strategy is to cut off India’s connectivity with the Northeast by closing the Siliguri Corridor in case of war. In such a situation, Dragon is trying to penetrate more and more into the area of Doklam.
Bhutan completely changed its stance on Doklam
Bhutan PM says we can discuss after both sides (India and China) are ready, indicating that Bhutan has now accepted China as a party in the Doklam dispute. This statement by the Bhutanese PM is in stark contrast to his statement in 2019, in which he said that neither side should do anything unilaterally near the current trijunction point of the three countries. This point is located at a place called Batang La. China’s Chumbi Valley is to the north of Batang La, Bhutan to the south and east, while India is to the west.