Beijing yet again has shown its greed for land in neighbouring country. Satellite images released so far has shown that the giant Asian nation has been continuing illegal construction unabated in North Bhutan’s Jakarlung Valley despite ongoing border talks between Bhutan and China to officially demarcate their boundary.
China’s claim to an area is based on “earlier grazing practices by herders, that is very recent and without precedent – and then unilaterally seizing the territory and settling it with villages, military barracks and outposts”, shared Tibetan history expert Professor Robert Barnett, who works at University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies or SOAS.
“Jakarlung adjoins the Beyul Khenpajong, which is a significant cultural and religious area for the Bhutanese. So this case represents China making a very recent, doubtful claim about an area that is of great cultural significance to a far less powerful neighbour, knowing that neighbour has few if any options as to its response.”
China has shown its physical presence in the Jakarlung Valley over two years, indicated the images from Maxar.
The latest images show ongoing construction of as many as 129 buildings. Previous images from August 2021 of the same area show that none of these buildings had been constructed.
In this case, “the Royal Bhutan Army does not have the capacity to react and push the PLA or Border Defence Force back or even stop the construction of the new villages,” stated Professor Robert Barnett.
Subsequently, Thimphu is left with no option but to accept the action by the Chinese in this area which lies 50 kilometres from Bhutan’s Eastern border with Arunachal Pradesh.
The new images come at a time when Bhutan has stepped up ties with China, in an effort to end Chinese incursions into its territory once and for all.
In October this year, Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji went on Beijing’s maiden visit. Same month, Prime Minister Lotay Tshering expressed “hope to see a line being drawn – this side Bhutan and that side China. We don’t have that right now”.
Significantly, Tshering did not refuted the possibility of Beijing and Thimphu consenting to a land swap – where territory in areas including Jakarlung could be exchanged if China were to give up its claim to the Doklam plateau which lies further to the south.
Irrespective of any outcome, “Bharat may be concerned by the precedent that Jakarlung sets for China’s willingness to abrogate treaty obligations when it comes to border disputes,” said Professor Robert Barnett.
He added, “China signed a formal agreement with Bhutan in 1998 not to alter the status quo in disputed areas. In occupying and settling Jakarlung, it violated that agreement.”
Besides, Bharat’s immediate concerns over Chinese expansion within Bhutanese territory extend to the Amu Chu river valley which lies directly adjacent to the Doklam plateau.
Post the Doklam standoff, China has built at least three villages along the valley. Any further Chinese extension South would raise alarm bells in New Delhi since that would mean a Chinese presence close to the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow corridor that connects Bharat’s Northeast with the rest of the country.
Comments