After India and Nepal, relentless China now triggers border disputes with Bhutan
Both countries have had a border dispute since 1984 and talks between Thimphu and Beijing have largely been limited to three areas – two in North Bhutan (Jakarlung and Pasamlung areas) and one in West Bhutan.
Representational Image of Bhutan. | Photo Credit: IANS
Key Highlights
- During a virtual meeting of the Global Environment Facility early June, China raised objections to the grant issued for the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in eastern Bhutan’s Trashigang district
- It borders India and China, and Beijing has now claimed that the location is disputed
New Delhi: China continues to propagate its expansionist agenda all along its borders as after India and Nepal, the Communist country has now set its eyes on Bhutan, India’s close ally.
During a virtual meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) early June, China raised objections to the grant issued for the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) in eastern Bhutan’s Trashigang district. It borders India and China, and Beijing has now claimed that the location is disputed.
With the world grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, which broke out first in Wuhan of China’s Hubei province, the Asian country has been aggressively trying to alter the status quo along its borders with India in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, and in East China Sea and South China Sea.
According to the Strat News Global, the GEF Council got together to decide the funding for environmental projects across the world and was taken aback by China’s objection to aid for Bhutan, rubbishing it instantly.
A majority of the council members backed Bhutan’s view and the draft summary was approved by the GEF despite objection from the Chinese.
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Such was the humiliation faced by China, the GEF Council even refused to keep China’s reason for objection in their record and stated that they would just leave it in the footnote that the Chinese objected.
The Chinese council member, in fact, claimed that he’ll need time to consult this matter with his higher-ups to reach a conclusion.
The Bhutanese government has strongly opposed the move of China to question the sovereignty of the country and its territorial right on the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary. It has also issued a formal letter to the GEF Council in this regard, urging the council to purge all references of China’s baseless claims, news agency IANS reported.
Both countries have had a border dispute since 1984 and talks between Thimphu and Beijing have largely been limited to three areas – two in North Bhutan (Jakarlung and Pasamlung areas) and one in West Bhutan.
Interestingly, Sakteng isn’t a part of any of these three.