Doklam Crisis

In 2017, Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army of China had a stand off at Doklam, an area with a plateau and a valley, lying between China’s Chumbi valley to the North, Bhutan’s Ha valley to the East and India’s Nathang valley to the West.

On 16 June 2017 Chinese troops with construction vehicles and road-building equipment began extending road southward in Doklam (territory which is claimed by both China and Bhutan). On 18 June 2017, as part of Operation Juniper, about 270 Indian troops with 2 tanks crossed Sikkim border into Doklam to stop the Chinese troops from constructing the road.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement on 26 June 2017 alleging that Indian border troops crossed the boundary line in the Sikkim sector of the China-India boundary and entered Chinese territory.

On 29 June, 2017 the Bhutan’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying that China had violated agreements of 1988 and 1998 that the two sides would maintain status quo, peace and tranquillity in their border areas pending final settlement of boundary. On June 30, the Indian external affairs ministry stated for the first time that Chinese actions in the Doklam area “represent significant change in status quo with serious security implications for India”.

Bhutan’s reaction-

After issuing a press statement on 29 June, the Bhutanese government and media maintained a studious silence.The Bhutanese clarified that the territory on which China was building a road was “Bhutanese territory” that was being claimed by China, and it is part of the ongoing border negotiations. It also defended the policy of silence followed by the Bhutanese government, saying “Bhutan does not want India and China to go to war, and it is avoiding doing anything that can heat up an already heated situation.”

This tussle went on till 28 August 2017, when both India and China announced that they had withdrawn their troops from the face-off site in Doklam.

Strategic Importance of this stand-off –

Doklam is located close to the Siliguri Corridor, which connects mainland India with its north-eastern region. The corridor, also called Chicken’s Neck.

Some factual points –

• India shares 3,488 km long border with China (LAC: Line of Actual Control)
• If any such issue arises then it is resolved through mutually established protocols to maintain peace. The resolving mechanism involves the local Border Personal Meetings (BPM).

International Media Stands –

“The New York Times” said that it encountered more people concerned about India’s actions than China’s. It found expressions of sovereignty and concern that an escalation of the border conflict would hurt trade and diplomatic relations with China.

Reference has been taken from –

• Ministry of External Affairs, India
• Wikipedia
• Dhristi IAS
• The Wire

-Shikhar Swami