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Doklam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents
1 The Treaty of 1890 and the British
2 Bhutan and China border agreements 1988 and 1998
3 2017 Doklam crisis
4 See also
5 References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 1/6
7/23/2017 Doklam - Wikipedia
The status of Chumbi Valley, where Doklam lies, was negotiated in a bilateral treaty between the British and the
Chinese royal mission.[6] The treaty states that representatives of Sikkim and Tibet were part of these negotiations,
but records show that they were not present during the negotiations in Calcutta.[10][3] The territorial boundary
between Sikkim and Tibet was delineated in the following manner:
The boundary of Sikkim and Tibet shall be the crest of the mountain range separating the waters
flowing into the Sikkim Teesta and its affluents from the waters flowing into the Tibetan Mochu and
northwards into other Rivers of Tibet. The line commences at Mount Gipmochi on the Bhutan frontier,
and follows the above-mentioned water-parting to the point where it meets Nipal territory" .
The Mochu River today is more commonly called the Amo Chu or, further south, the Torsa River. The Diplomat
has commented that the continuous mountain crest or watershed appears to begin very near Batang La, four km
north of Doka La and six km north of Mount Gipmochi (Gymo Chen), and that this suggests a contradiction
between the two sentences of the above article of the treaty.[11] This Batang La location is depicted and claimed as
the tripoint by Bhutan and India.
"Boundary talks are ongoing between Bhutan and China and we have written agreements of 1988 and
1998 stating that the two sides agree to maintain peace and tranquility in their border areas pending a
final settlement on the boundary question, and to maintain status quo on the boundary as before March
1959. The agreements also state that the two sides will refrain from taking unilateral action, or use of
force, to change the status quo of the boundary."[12]
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that replaced the provision that made it mandatory for Bhutan to take India's guidance on foreign policy, providing
broader sovereignty to Bhutan and not requiring it to obtain India's permission over arms imports.[16][17] Article 2
of the 2007 Friendship Treaty signed by India and Bhutan in 2007 states:
In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the
Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate
closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests.[18]
Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador of India to China, Nirupama Rao said about the dispute,
"Bhutan and India enjoy the closest relationship of mutual trust and confidence and enduring
friendship. There is absolutely no controversy about military-to-military cooperation and
understanding between our two countries. India holds Bhutanese sovereignty as sacred and
inviolable."[18]
India and Bhutan voluntarily still maintain very strong comprehensive ties,[19][20][21][22] parts of which are focused
at mutually countering aggression from China.[23] Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China.[24] Bhutan formally
protested against China's incursion into its territory and sought India's help under the friendship treaty against
Chinese incursion.[25] Near the disputed area inside Bhutan, India maintains an Indian Military Training Team
(IMTRAT) and the Indian Army Corps of Engineers' Border Roads Organisation has built over 15 1,500 kilometres
(930 mi) roads, airports, helipads, etc for Bhutan's defence and transport.[26][27][28] Ambassador of Bhutan to India
Vetsop Namgyel stated,
"Doklam is a disputed territory and Bhutan has a written agreement with China that pending the final
resolution of the boundary issue, peace and tranquillity should be maintained in the area."
India charges that China has violated this 'peace agreement' by trying to construct roads in Doklam.[29]
India has criticised China for "crossing the border" and attempting to construct a road (allegedly done "illegally"),
while China has criticised India for entering its "territory".[24]
On 29 June 2017, Bhutan protested to China against the construction of a road in the disputed territory.[30] On the
same day, the Bhutanese border was put on high alert and border security was tightened as a result of the growing
tensions.[31] On the same day, China released a map depicting Doklam as part of China. China claimed, via the
map, that territory south to Gipmochi belonged to China and claimed it was supported by the 1890 Britain-China
treaty.[32] On 3 July 2017, China told India that former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru accepted the 1890
Britain-China treaty.[33] China claimed on 5 July 2017 it had for the past 24 months a "basic consensus" with
Bhutan that Doklam belonged to China, and there was no dispute between the two countries.[34] Contrary to
Chinese claim, Nehrus 26th September 1959 letter to Zhou, cited by China, was a point-by-point refutation of the
claims made by the latter on 8th September 1959. Nehru made is amply clear in his refutal that the 1890 treaty
defined only the northern part of the Sikkim-Tibet border and not the tri-junction area. Nehru wrote,
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rectification of errors in Chinese maps regarding the boundary of Bhutan with Tibet is therefore a
matter which has to be discussed along with the boundary of India with the Tibet region of China in
the same sector."
The Chinese had quoted Nehru's statement out of context, as Nehru in his reply had made it clear boundaries of
Sikkim and Bhutan did not fall within the scope of the discussion,
This Convention of 1890 also defined the boundary between Sikkim and Tibet; and the boundary was
later, in 1895, demarcated. There is thus no dispute regarding the boundary of Sikkim with the Tibet
region".[35]
"The so-called tri-junction, as the name suggests, is a point. It is not a line, much less an area. India
misinterprets tri-junction point as an area, from ulterior motives. This time, the trespassing point of
India army, is on the Sikkim-China border, which is 2000 metres away from the tri-junction point,
Mount Gipmochi, by the 1890 Treaty." [36]
On 19 July 2017 China renewed its call for India to withdraw its troops from Doklam. It followed reports that
claimed China held live firing drills in the region.[37]
See also
BhutanChina border Senkaku Islands dispute
BhutanChina relations Sino-Indian border dispute
BhutanIndia relations Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
ChinaIndia relations
Senkaku Islands dispute
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 4/6
7/23/2017 Doklam - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 5/6
7/23/2017 Doklam - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 6/6