Why Bhutan’s Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is disputed by China

Subject: Environment

Section: Protected Area

Context:

China claims for the first time to Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans about 740 sq km (285 sq miles) in eastern Bhutan.

Details:

Bhutan rejected the claim, pointing out the area had never featured in 24 previous rounds of boundary talks.
Sakteng national park was never a disputed area and it was always under Bhutanese control. There is no evidence of any affiliation to China.
The plateau is of strategic importance to Delhi because it overlooks the Siliguri corridor, known as the “chicken’s neck”, a narrow strip of land that connects India’s north-eastern states with the rest of the country.

China-Bhutan Border talks:

China and Bhutan held their 25th round of boundary talks in Beijing and signed a Cooperation Agreement on the “Responsibilities and Functions of the Joint Technical Team (JTT) on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary.”
This advances their 3-Step Roadmap initiated in 2021 for border resolution, building on the positive momentum since their last talks in 2016.
Bhutan and China don’t have diplomatic ties, as Bhutan has avoided diplomatic relations with all the United Nations Security Council permanent members.

About the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary:

Itis a wildlife sanctuary in Bhutan, located in Merak and Sakteng Gewogs of Trashigang District and just crossing the border into SamdrupJongkhar District.
It is one of the country’s protected areas and is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan’s Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.
The sanctuary has three ranges: Merak Range, Sakteng Range, and Joenkhar Range.
Sakteng Range is the largest range, followed by Merak Range (287.352 sq.km) and Joenkhar Range (121.442 sq.km).
The Sakteng sanctuary borders India’s Arunachal Pradesh.

Source: BBC