Many believe the on-going border standoff at Sikkim could be resolved if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to have a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany.
However, China has put such hopes to rest by saying the atmosphere is not conducive for such a meeting. India confirmed it has not sought a bilateral meeting.
The countries’ terse approach reflects the current mood in Beijing and New Delhi.
Border standoffs between India and China have been amicably resolved in the past through diplomacy. Perhaps that is why India has remained largely silent this time in the face of a barrage of accusations from China and its media.
China has cause to dispute India’s view of the exact location of the India-China-Bhutan “tri-junction.” India says the tri-junction is near Batang La, but the Anglo-Chinese Convention of 1890, which determines Sikkim’s border with Tibet, shows Mount Gipmochi as the tri-junction.
As described in the treaty, the border runs from Gipmochi to Gyemochen and further north to Batang La. Doka La (Donglang in Chinese) lies between Batang La and Gyemochen. Therefore, China has the right to say Indian troops had crossed the border when they interfered with Chinese attempts to extend a border road in Doko La early June.
Bhutan, however, is not bound by the 1890 treaty. Despite several rounds of talks, disputes over stretches of western Bhutan, including the area subject to current the India-China standoff remain unresolved.
According to Indian media reports, Royal Bhutan Army personnel confronted Chinese troops at Doko La as the Chinese road construction made its way towards their camp. By the time Indian soldiers arrived, Chinese troops had already pushed back Bhutanese soldiers.
India, which has special ties with Bhutan, trains the Bhutanese army and conducts joint patrols with them.
Beijing may be driving a wedge between India and Bhutan by giving Thimpu a message that so long as it does not have diplomatic ties with China and remains a friend of India, road construction and other activities will continue.
China wants India to withdraw its forces immediately before any meaningful talks. But India is unlikely to comply.
India has security concerns over a Chinese road heading toward its Siliguri Corridor (see map). Besides, it will not allow a small neighbor like Bhutan to be “bullied” by China.
“With certain conditions, Bhutan and Sikkim will see strong anti-India movements, which will negatively affect India’s already turbulent northeast area and rewrite southern Himalayan geopolitics”
Meanhile, Chinese media have been stirring up anti-Indian sentiment. On Wednesday, Chinese official media called for Sikkim’s “independence” and separation from India.
The Global Times called on Chinese citizens to “fuel” a pro-independence movement in Sikkim and overturn India’s “brutal” annexation of the state. It said Beijing should rally the world against New Delhi, which has allegedly forced Bhutan to sign unfair treaties on sovereignty and defense.
“With certain conditions, Bhutan and Sikkim will see strong anti-India movements, which will negatively affect India’s already turbulent northeast area and rewrite southern Himalayan geopolitics,” the newspaper said.
It is as yet unclear whether China is merely indulging in military posturing or if it means business. For now Beijing does not look to be in any rush to resolve the standoff.
India has been annexing land from ita neighbours for decades. The locals oppose the rule of India as they are exploited and receive little aid and funds from New Delhi. I have been to Patna and saw malnourished children with bloated stomachs. Curiously just over the border in Nepal, the people are more prosperous and well fed.
Very rich coming from Chini commies that are bullying their small neighbors. Its time India stood up to this pompous "king" trying to throw its weight around. Good that US/India and are slowly ganging up to this brute
China’s claims over some areas in Bhutan like Donglang are questionable. They remain disputable despite several rounds of talks between China and Bhutan. Chinese army’s recent road construction attempt may be to provoke India which had refused to join its ‘One Belt One Road’ project. India can expect more such provocations.
If you are looking for a non-partisan view of the conflict, read this:
http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2017/07/06/sikkim-stand-off-china-india-collide-himalayas/
Please spare us the homilies about "nonpartisanship" just like after every terror incodent we hear phrases like "terror has no religion." If anything GOI is finally standing up where Nehruvian "statesmenship" gave the world nothing but usurpation of Tibet and now "South China Sea" mess along with always have the gall to intimidate Taiwan which IS an independent country, like it or not
Fake news. China doesn’t call for independence in Sikkim. Indian paranoia is on a rise again.
Global Times it is just a nationalist tabloid with deliberate provocations. It’s selling better this way (as any western tabloid journalism) and is the most cited among the foreign media, another source of fame ($$$). GT does not represent the official government position.
Even if it is a state media but you can ”move" in some broad limits: some publication are more official, other more moderate, down-to-earth, and other more nationalistic. There is not a single unified voice, like in any other country.
BTW those indian hypocrite ignore that the majority of indian media promote hatred toward China and instigate a war with China
I just surfed the site. In fact it is quite positive toward India, is even praising India for Trump-Modi meeting.
Here is a good article how Global Times should be seen:
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/global-times-and-beijing-nuanced-relationship
@Shamim Sheriff
Good article. Thank you
Look at the map When East Pakistan was created, India did not hold territory in that region. Now India claims land north of Bangladesh which is oddly located with respect to Bangladesh’s boundary. The land probably belongs to China but obviously do not belong to India.
By the way are you a real Indian or a CIA fake Indian stirring up tension here. India should know that China military is vastly superior and has been very very patient so far on all these provocative encroachments. Why is India constantly asking for a bloody nose? It does not make sense and is probably propaganda by fake CIA Indians
VK Kal Terrorism has no religion. Look at the murder spree of cow vigilantes.
Thank you Shamin Sheriff for the attachment. It really helped me to see the situation between Chna and India from a lot more objective angle.
Beto Perez You are most welcome.
"The Global Times called on Chinese citizens to “fuel” a pro-independence movement in Sikkim and overturn India’s “brutal” annexation of the state. It said Beijing should rally the world against New Delhi, which has allegedly forced Bhutan to sign unfair treaties on sovereignty and defense."
All because the india deseve it. I hope you enjoy the process as much as you did to China past 70 years.
"and has been very very patient so far on all these provocative encroachments" Please don’t try to make a virtue out of a necessity. Your bark has been much worse than the bite so far. Vietnam can attest to that -:). Noithing belongs to China. Give up Tibet/Uyghur before "we" snatch it back out your clutches. Remeber what happened to SU post 1990?
Shamim Sheriff They are a few hindu fanatics and will be set right by the others who are much more sensible and won’t let this nonsense go on for long. Yes teeroris has religion when the majority starts being a silent supporter or actual perpetrator
"New Delhi, which has allegedly forced Bhutan to sign unfair treaties on sovereignty and defense." Coming from a country that did not even go thru the modalities/formalities of a process in Tibet, it is quite rich. Took the easy way out – just attacked them and now slowly destroying their culture just like in the westren region where Hans are settling.
Jews form < .5% of the world population yet they have intellectually contributed to more than 30% of the intellectual capital over the least few 100 years.
And all you guys produce is a different kind of IT (International terrorism which is > 50%)
Sood can’t be your real last name. Thats a punjabi last name. You are a fake
Sir, I have always enjoyed your writings including channeling as Spengler! Your writings are incisive, anatytical and common sensical once we can go past the quantitative basis. Cases in piint
1) China will grow old before rich
2) Muslim world (Iran) having a birthrate problem (Germany/Europe too but they are probably rich enough to get past it)
3) Turkey’s apparent "affluence"
I can take a an opinion whne backed by data even though conlcusions may turn out to be not entirely correct but thats the nature of science and statistical prediction. Margin of error. But at least yo can argue.
Similarly once you wrote something about muslim/islamic "reasoning model" where submission to Allah subsumes it. Man what a crap load they were unloading and you did seem perplexed and rightly too
It is important to note the timing of the flareup and release of the video footage just as Modi was meeting Trump. It is nothing more than just another cheap Indian ploy to extract more mileage out of their new found friendship.
Staking claims to areas based on old treaties and maps can often be misleading. It has been reported that Chinese maps show large areas of Bhutan as part of Tibet. India and China have mature leaders who can sort out the issue.
LOL. If Chinese has not buy your stuff, it must be not worth it. But feel free to sell to India….
VK Kal Nice sucking… Keep up good work….
Get your facts right man!! It is China that has border disputes with every neighbor. In this case shamelessly it is trying to bully a tiny Kingdom of Bhutan, which is under Indian protection by treaty. Its time somone bitchslaps China from it’s delusional state.
like China annexed Tibet?
That was a bunch of bulls crap and pure horse shit…
Some Indian dream of a Hindu Rastro using destractive adventure could end up in flame that would certainly deestabilise her basic foundation that Gandhi won"t be able to heal!A little elephant is trying to fight fire eating dragon?
Modi’s India is trying to show to the US and Israel that they are the underdogs when it comes to China and also are trying to gain sympathy and assurance from the west as being the worlds biggest democarcy to fight the communist Chinese but these types of cheap tactics will not work this time as the world already khows that India is the instigator of this tension, also a country with more that 400 million people below the poverty line is no match with China that has a more that billion people living healthy and enjoying life.
Jo Snow Oh boy I LOVE your abuses/frustrations/delusions. Because I know you already lost the arguments (and you know it) and resorting to such language because the alternative will be to hit your head against the wall -:) (go for it as you have my permission. China can do diddly-squat about it. Soon its stooges (Pakistan and NK) will be taught a lesson by you-know-who so you will be left without your cover.
" fight the communist Chinese but these types of cheap tactics will not work this time as the world " The "world" I suppose here is Pak-China-NK!
india should love their neighbour especially pakistane cause they rule india for so many decade….
Chinese better to give tibet back to tibetans.
North korea is going to fire u.
Good proposal from China. India to give independence to Sikkim and China to give independence to Tibet? If this happens, I think we can have a better and merrier world, at least in Asia and Himalayas.
What the Chinese lust for tibet, taiwan, mongolia, and south china sea…even the sea the pigs are after…Sick and disgusting race on this planet
Fat hope