Tag: Bhutan

China aggressively building new villages in disputed borderlands in Himalayas: Report
22Mar By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia, China, Conflict

China aggressively building new villages in disputed borderlands in Himalayas: Report

China is aggressively building many new villages in disputed borderlands in the Himalayas to extend or consolidate its control over strategically important areas that India, Bhutan, and Nepal maintain fall within their national boundaries, according to a report by Center for Policy Research.In an article titled ‘China’s Himalayan salami tactics’, Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research said that the strategic implications of China’s drive to populate these desolate, uninhabited border areas is its major buildup of new military facilities.The new installations range from electronic warfare stations and air defence sites to underground ammunition depots.“China’s militarised village-building spree has renewed the regional spotlight on
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Satellite imagery shows China setting up 3 villages near Arunachal, relocates villagers
6Dec By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Satellite imagery shows China setting up 3 villages near Arunachal, relocates villagers

New satellite images show that China has constructed at least 3 villages, approximately 5 kilometres from the Bum La pass which lies close to the tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan in western Arunachal Pradesh, with experts saying the move could be aimed at reinforcing its territorial claims along the Arunachal Pradesh frontier.“China has been using a strategy of settling Han Chinese and Tibetan members of the Communist Party along the India border to strengthen its territorial claims and escalate border intrusions,” says China-watcher Dr. Brahma Chellaney.The new satellite images were shared by the open-source intelligence analyst who goes by the name @detresfa on Twitter. In a tweet, @detresfa said there is evidence of “new villages and accommodation similar to what was seen in
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Behind China’s wild claims to Bhutan Sanctuary bordering India, a Doklam link
31Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Behind China’s wild claims to Bhutan Sanctuary bordering India, a Doklam link

By introducing a new territory in the border dispute between Bhutan and China, the latter appears to be making a renewed push to make the former cede the strategically located Doklam and its adjoining areas.The freshly minted Chinese claims on the Sakteng sanctuary, close to Bhutan’s eastern border with Arunachal Pradesh were made in June.Doklam can be traced back to a 73-day standoff between Indian and Chinese troops after Indian troops stopped the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from constructing a motorable road close to the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction.The road towards Jampheri Ridge would have enabled the Chinese to overlook the vulnerable Siliguri corridor or the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ area that connects the Indian mainland with its north-eastern states.Since 1984, 24 rounds of boundary
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Hegemony, not territory is China’s goal
27Jul By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

Hegemony, not territory is China’s goal

China’s incessant aggressive behaviour in recent times have been raising question. It is fighting with India in the highlands of Ladakh. It has introduced a new security law for Hong Kong that eliminates basic civil rights. Chinese military jets are flying into Taiwan’s air defense space. It has raised a border conflict with Bhutan in a specific area. The sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat in the South China Sea. It is caught up in territorial disputes in the same maritime area with not only Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia but also Indonesia. China is also meddling in Australia’s domestic politics, for the first time giving rise to critical voices against China in a country which until now has been extremely reluctant to criticize its most important trading partner.Is China shootin
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Bhutan issues demarche to China over its bid to create border trouble
15Jul By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Bhutan issues demarche to China over its bid to create border trouble

As China is now fixing its eyes on Bhutan by declaring a Bhutanese wildlife sanctuary along their border as a disputed territory, Bhutan swiftly jumped to its feet and issued a demarche to China.The demarche was a follow-up to protests earlier against Beijing’s attempt to make a non-dispute into a quarrel.At the 58th Global Environment Facility Council held in June, the Chinese raised objections to the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary project and argued that it was in a disputed area between China and Bhutan. Sakteng lies in a zone of Bhutan that borders Arunachal Pradesh and China. At the meeting, Bhutan strongly objected to the references made by China against its sovereignty.The Chinese claim coincided with the People’s Liberation Army’s belligerence along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh
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China reasserts its claims on “disputed” eastern Bhutan boundary
15Jul By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

China reasserts its claims on “disputed” eastern Bhutan boundary

Beijing has decided to strengthen its commitment to declare a Bhutanese wildlife sanctuary along their border as a disputed territory after Bhutan sent China a demarche against its claims.The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement to the media in Beijing said, “The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited. There have been disputes over the eastern, central and western sectors for a long time.”The MFA was responding to questions about China’s attempt in June to stop funding for the Sakteng sanctuary from the U.N. Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility (GEF), on the grounds that it was “disputed” territory.At the 58th Global Environment Facility Council held recently, China raised objections to the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary project and said t
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China crafts new row in Bhutan Wildlife Sanctuary bordering India
9Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China crafts new row in Bhutan Wildlife Sanctuary bordering India

China’s expansionist exercise is no more limited to altering the status quo in East China Sea, South China Sea and with India. Now, it has on its target the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan too.According to reports from Washington DC, China raised a new, non-existent dispute with Bhutan at a virtual meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) held in June. The Council was meeting to decide on funding for various environmental projects across the world.One of the projects seeking funds was the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) in eastern Bhutan’s Trashigang district bordering India (Arunachal Pradesh) and China.According to sources, as the SWS request came up for discussion, the Chinese member of the GEF Council raised objections against the proposal contending that the sanctuary was located
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