Bhutan-China border talks include talks on Doklam.
New Delhi:
Just a week after China and Bhutan met and decided to pursue boundary talks, India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra made a two-day visit to the Buddhist kingdom.
A tweet by Sudhakar Dalela, India’s ambassador to Bhutan, said there were “engaging talks, positive outcome, growing partnership”.
Foreign Secretary @AmbVMKwatra The two day productive visit to Bhutan came to an end. Engaging conversations, positive results, 🇮🇳🇧🇹expanding partnerships. thanks team @IndiainBhutan For your tireless efforts in fostering closer ties of friendship and cooperation. pic.twitter.com/EORXNDivnp
– Sudhakar Dalela (@SudhakarDalela) January 20, 2023
The boundary talks between Bhutan and China are important for India, as it involves talks on Doklam. This region of Bhutan overlooks the ‘Chicken Neck’ of India – the stretch connecting the North-East to the rest of India. In 2017, there was a two-month face-off between the army of India and China in Doklam.
A few years ago, in what is seen as an attempt by China to exert more pressure on Bhutan, it opened a new frontier by laying claim to the Sakteng Sanctuary in Bhutan. It borders India’s Arunachal Pradesh, which is highly sensitive for India with respect to China.
Recently, on December 9, Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. Sakteng Sanctuary is in the border of Tawang district.
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