Between Giants

By S.G Jilanee | January 2020

With its less than a million people, the majority of them young, Bhutan sits serenely ensconced between two giants, India and China, playing its cards carefully in order to cultivate friendly relations with both.

The dispute between Hindus and Muslims for the ownership of the site goes back to centuries. It all started when Mir Baqi, a commander in Babur’s army, built a mosque in the name of the emperor in 1528. Later, the Hindus disparaged the mosque as they believed it was built on the ruins of a temple that was put up to commemorate the birthplace of their deity – Ram Lalla. After the fall of the Mughal Empire and dawn of the British rule in 1857, communal differences between the Hindus and Muslims grew further. Consequently, a suit was filed in vain by Mahant Raghubar Das in 1885 seeking permission to erect the Ram Temple at the disputed site. However, the partition in 1947 changed the overall spectrum of the region, especially post-independence India, where the Hindu nationalism mantra was creeping into the society. This culminated in a communal quarrel when a mob secretly placed Ram’s idols inside the mosque in 1949 leading to the closure of the mosque for any kind of worship. In response, both the Nimrohi Akhara (a Hindu religious denomination) and the Sunni Waqf Board filed cases seeking control of the site. Since then, the matter had become a bone of contention between Hindus and Muslims in India.

With China, it has no formal diplomatic relations. Relations in general have been historically tense. China shares a contiguous border of 470 kilometres with Bhutan and its territorial disputes with the country have been a source of potential conflict. Since the 1980s, though, the two governments have conducted regular talks on border and security issues aimed at reducing tensions

Along with the occupation of Tibet, the Chinese Peoples’ Liberation Army occupied eight western Tibetan enclaves under Bhutanese administration.

Chinese soldiers and Tibetan herdsmen also provoked tensions in Bhutan. This led to imposition of a cross-border trade embargo and closing of the border. On the other hand, Bhutan has established extensive military ties with India

During the 1962 Sino-India War, Bhutanese authorities permitted Indian troop movements through Bhutanese territory. However, India's defeat in the war raised concerns about its ability to defend Bhutan. Consequently, while building its ties with India, Bhutan officially established a policy of neutrality.

Actually, there are four disputed areas between Bhutan and China. Starting from Doklam in the west, the border goes along the ridges from Gamochen to Batangla, Sinchela and down to the Amo Chhu. The disputed area in Doklam covers 89 square kilometres while that in Sinchulumpa and Gieu cover about 180 km2.

Until the 1970s, India represented Bhutan's concerns in talks with China over the broader Sino-Indian border conflicts. After obtaining membership of the United Nations in 1971, Bhutan began to take a different course in its foreign policy in the U.N. Bhutan, alongside India, voted in favour of the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC) filling the seat occupied by the Republic of China (ROC) and openly supported the “One China policy”. In 1974 in a symbolic overture, Bhutan invited the Chinese ambassador to India to attend the coronation of Jigme Singhye Wangchuk as the King of Bhutan. In 1983, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian and Bhutanese Foreign Minister, Dawa Tsering held talks in New York on establishing bilateral relations. In 1984, China and Bhutan began annual, direct talks over the border dispute.

In 1998, China and Bhutan signed a bilateral agreement for maintaining peace on the border. In the agreement, China affirmed its respect for Bhutan's sovereignty and territorial integrity and both sides sought to build ties based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. However, China's building of roads on what Bhutan asserts to be Bhutanese territory, allegedly in violation of the 1998 agreement, provoked tensions. In 2002, however, China presented what it claimed to be 'evidence', asserting its ownership of disputed tracts of land; after negotiations, an interim agreement was reached.\

On 11 August 2016 Bhutan Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji visited Beijing for the 24th round of boundary talks with Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao. Both sides made comments to show their readiness to strengthen cooperation in various fields with the hope of settling the boundary issues.

On June 29, 2017, Bhutan protested to China against the construction of a road in the disputed territory of Doklam, at the meeting point of Bhutan, India and China. On the same day, the Bhutanese border was put on high alert and border security was tightened as a result of the growing tensions. The Royal Government of Bhutan has not confirmed in any manner that Bhutan asked India to intervene. A stand-off between China and India has endured since mid-June 2017 at the tri-junction adjacent to the Indian state of Sikkim, after the Indian army blocked the Chinese construction of a road in what Bhutan and India consider Bhutanese territory.

Both India and China deployed 3000 troops on June 30, 2017. On the same day, China released a map claiming that Doklam belonged to China. It also claimed, via the map, that territory south of Gipmochi belonged to China and that it was supported by the Convention of Calcutta. On July 3, 2017, China told India that former Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru accepted the Convention of Calcutta. China claimed on July 5, 2017 it had a "basic consensus" with Bhutan and there was no dispute between the two countries. But, on August 10, 2017, Bhutan rejected Beijing's claim that Doklam belonged to China.

With India, Bhutan shares a ‘special relationship.” making it a “protected state,” though, not a “protectorate” of India. Therefore, India remains influential over Bhutan's foreign policy, defence and commerce. In fiscal 2012–13, India's budgetary support to Bhutan stood at US$600 million. It steadily rose over the years to reach US$985 million in 2015–16, making Bhutan the largest beneficiary of India's foreign aid.

Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Tsering Tobgay, secured an additional aid package from India, worth US$819 million for his nation during his visit to New Delhi in August 2013. The government of Bhutan also received Nu.4Billion for trade facilitation and boosting economic linkages.

However, though Bhutan’s trade and commerce is mostly with India, yet the latter also provides it the facility for conducting its commerce with the outside world.

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