India, China and Bhutan dispute over Doka La
The standoff between India and China on the territorial sanctity on the Doka La area is a major cause for concern. Doka La is a narrow plateau lying in the tri-junction of Bhutan, China and India. It is a disputed territory and claimed by both Bhutan and China. India and Bhutan have accused China of constructing a road in June this year in the disputed territory and has asked China to halt its construction work. As a measure of precaution, India sent troops at Doka La on the request of Bhutan (As per the Friendship Treaty signed by Indian and Bhutan in 2007,the two countries are to co-operate in cases of natural interest) to which the Chinese govt. has taken strict objection to.
The Doka La Plateau is strategically located as it overlooks the Chumbi valley beneath which has valley passes of Nathu La and Jelep La that connect Sikkim(India) and Tibet(China). Road construction in the Doka La area will allow Chinese troops access farther even up to the Siliguri corridor—which connects India’s northeastern states to the rest of India and is a security risk.
There are border agreements which serve to maintain status quo on the issue governing the boundaries of India and China and also that between Bhutan and China The Anglo-Chinese convention of 1890 defines the Sikkim-Tibet boundary line as that originating from Mount Gipmochi on the Bhutan frontier. This has been confirmed by leaders Jawaharlal Nehru and Zhou En Lai in 1959. Similarly there have been agreements between China and Bhutan in 1988 and 1998 which also have a reference to Mount Gipmochi as the tri-junction point between the nations and the status quo as of 1959. Besides in 2012 it was agreed between India and China that no country could unilaterally act on the issue.
There could be many reasons for the seemingly intentional construction activity at the dispute Doka La area:
--A change in the status quo on the border could force boundary re-negotiation between the nations which would be advantageous to China
--China wants to throw its weight and emerge as the in the region given its superpower status and wants its neighbours to toe its line.
--- Relations between India and China have strained recently due to India’s non-cooperation on its ambitious ‘One Belt-One Road’ project, the Dalai Lama’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, and the closer ties between India and the US.
There have been heated verbal exchanges between the nations. The defense minister Arun Jaitley hit out at China for its direct insult asking the Indian army to learn from "historical lessons". “The India of 2017 is different from what it was in 1962”, Mr. Jaitely asserted in reply. On the other hand Col.Wu Qian spokesman for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army described Indian army Chief General Bipin Rawat’s remarks that India was ready for a “two-and-a-half front war” as “extremely irresponsible” and asked him to “stop clamoring for war”
China is in no mood to reconcile and has hardened its stance saying that there could be no dialogue unless Indian troops withdrew its troops unconditionally from Doka La. The crisis is unlikely to see a diplomatic solution as both countries are adopting a wait –and-watch approach. Meanwhile China has started conducting military exercises in Tibet to intimidate India, refused access by cancelling visas of Hindu pilgrims for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra which is a 1500-km long bus journey from Nathu La to Kailash in Tibet
Conclusion: While it is right that territorial integrity of a nation should be respected. The door for dialogue should always be kept open. The three nations must realize the futility of war and its devastating consequences especially on the people who are the most vulnerable. One can only hope that better sense rather than foolish bravado prevails on this matter.
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