China­ Bhutan boundary talks

China­ Bhutan boundary talks

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context: 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.”

More about the news:

• 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. 
• The visit of Bhutan’s Foreign Minister to China was unprecedented on several levels as Bhutan and China do not maintain diplomatic relations and thisvisit is the first ever by a Bhutanese Foreign Minister

What is Bhutan-China border dispute:

• China and Bhutan share about 477 kilometers of border.
• The dispute over the boundary can be traced back to 1950 when China occupied Tibet and refused to recognise the dividing line between Tibet and Bhutan.
• Beijing also took over the control of eight Bhutanese enclaves in Tibet during its retaliatory action to the Tibetan uprising in 1959.
• China claims certain territories from Bhutan:
  • In the north – Pasamlung and Jakarlung valleys;
  • In the west – Doklam, Dramana, and Shakhatoe, Yak Chu and Charithang Chu, and Sinchulungpa and Langmarpo valleys.
• These places are pasture-rich and strategically located in the Bhutan-India-China trijunction, lying close to India’s Siliguri Corridor.
• In 2020, China made new claims on Bhutan’s East in the Sakteng sanctuary.
• Surprisingly, there has been no mention of Eastern Bhutan in the previous rounds of boundary negotiations held between the two countries.

What is the 3­Step Roadmap:

• In 2021, an MoU was signed between the Bhutanese Foreign Minister and the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister.
• The MoU aimed to establish a 3-step roadmap for delineating the border between Bhutan and China.
• This is significant because it marks the first attempt to clearly define the territorial boundaries between the two countries.
• The 3-step roadmap involves:
  • First, reaching an agreement on the border through negotiations.
  • Second, conducting site visits on the ground to physically inspect and assess the border areas.
  • Third, formally demarcating the boundary, thus establishing a clear and recognized border between Bhutan and China.