Doklam Isn’t the First Time China Built Roads in Bhutan Territory

Bhutan has protested the building of roads twice in 2008 and five times in 2009, according to a report.

This is not the first time that Bhutan has protested Chinese incursion. Photo used for representational purpose. (Photo: The Quint/ Chandan Nandy)

The recent India-China border dispute over China making a road in the Doklam area has another player involved – Bhutan. The incident that sparked a continuing Sino-India standoff, happened near the trijunction where the borders of India, China and Bhutan meet, and is disputed between Beijing and Thimpu.

But incursion in Doklam is not the first time China has invaded the Bhutanese territory to construct a road, reported The Times of India on Wednesday. They have constructed roads in four places other than Doklam, the report said. Quoting a Thimpu-based expert, the report said that Bhutan’s fear of Chinese invasion will not die down even if the current situation is resolved.

The analyst, though anonymously, told The Times of India that China, citing “its own version of history” pushes for a claim on Bhutanese territory which is followed by construction of roads.

Also Read: Explained: India-China Standoff at the Border

The Royal government of Bhutan has raised alarm over building of roads in their border twice in 2008 and five times in 2009, the government told its parliament, The Times of India said.

While Bhutan claims sovereignty over the Doklam plateau, China asserts that the 89 square km pasture, that falls close to Chumbi valley at the corner of India-Bhutan-China tri-junction not very far from the Sikkim sector, is within its territory.

Also Read: Near India-Bhutan-China Trijunction, Soldiers & Civilians Are Edgy

At the heart of China’s claims over Doklam is the 1890 Sikkim-Tibet treaty. Called the “Convention between Great Britain and China relating to Sikkim and Tibet”, the treaty basically demarcated the borders between Tibet and Sikkim. The only problem is that there weren’t any Tibetan or Bhutanese representatives when this treaty was signed.

While China claims that this treaty is a settled issue, Bhutan disagrees, saying that the border dispute continued even till 1960, which was 70 years after the treaty was signed.

Also Read: Chinese Media Warns India on Sikkim, Says May Help Pak in Kashmir