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Why Bhutan’s Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is disputed by China

  • October 27, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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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

Environment Why Bhutan's Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is disputed by China

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