BEIJING: Besides India, Bhutan is the only country with which China has unresolved land border issues. The two do not have diplomatic ties, which many say is a result of India’s overwhelming influence on Bhutan.
How big a factor is India in these bilateral negotiations? A stumbling block, said Long Xingchun, director of the Centre for India Studies at China West Normal University.
“India is the only factor that blocks establishment of China-Bhutan diplomatic relations. The two countries keep friendly relations despite having no diplomatic relations. There are no problems besides the boundary dispute,” Long told HT.
Long said China is ready for diplomatic ties with Bhutan but Thimpu has to wait for New Delhi’s consent. “China has been patient enough to wait. It depends on India’s perception and understanding of the role of Bhutan and its relations with China,” he said.
The event was fairly low key but India would have keenly followed the latest round of talks between China and Bhutan to resolve the border issue, their “most urgent problem.”
Bhutan’s foreign minister Damcho Dorji held the 24th round of talks with Chinese deputy foreign minister Liu Zhenmin in Beijing this past week. Details are scarce but Dorji also had separate meetings with foreign minister Wang Yi and vicepresident Li Yuanchao.
{{/usCountry}}Bhutan’s foreign minister Damcho Dorji held the 24th round of talks with Chinese deputy foreign minister Liu Zhenmin in Beijing this past week. Details are scarce but Dorji also had separate meetings with foreign minister Wang Yi and vicepresident Li Yuanchao.
{{/usCountry}}Between 1972 and 1984, Bhutan took part in border talks with China under India’s aegis. That is no longer the case.
“The aim of the border talks is to determine the border at an early date by friendly negotiations ,” China’s foreign ministry told Hindustan Times.
China and Bhutan share a 470-km border and have overlapping claims over 4,500 km of territory.