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