India and China - Doklam Issue : An understadning - Seeker's Thoughts

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India and China - Doklam Issue : An understadning


Where is Doklam?

Doklam or Zhoglam (in Standard Tibetan), known as Donglang in China  is an  area with a plateau and a valley, lying between Tibet's Chumbi Valley to the north, Bhutan's Ha Valley to the east.  India's Sikkim state to the west. It has been depicted as part of Bhutan in the Bhutanese maps since 1961, but it is also claimed by China.




it  (Doklam) is not a part of Indian Territory.

Why did Indian Army go to the disputed territory which is not even a part of it?


In June 2017 a military standoff occurred between China and India as China attempted to extend a road on the Doklam plateau southwards near the Doka La pass and Indian troops moved in to prevent the Chinese. India claimed to have acted on behalf of Bhutan, with which it has a 'special relationship'. Bhutan has formally objected to China's road construction in the disputed area

What is Special relationship between India and Bhutan?

In a 1949 treaty, Bhutan agreed to let India guide its foreign policy and defence affairs. In 2007, the treaty was superseded by a new friendship treaty that replaced the provision that made it mandatory for Bhutan to take India's guidance on foreign policy, providing broader sovereignty to Bhutan and not requiring it to obtain India's permission over arms imports

India supports Bhutan's claim on the territory.

According to the Bhutanese government, China attempted to extend a road that previously terminated at Doka La towards the Bhutan Army camp at Zompelri near the Jampheri Ridge two km to the south; that ridge, viewed as the border by China but as wholly within Bhutan by both Bhutan and India, extends eastward approaching India's highly-strategic Siliguri corridor.

India’s stand

India charged that China has violated this 'peace agreement' by trying to construct roads in `Doklam.

India criticized China for "crossing the border" and attempting to construct a road (allegedly done "illegally"), while China criticized India for entering its "territory”.

US also supported India’s Stand in Doklam.

China and India Conflict, accusations and the end

India said China’s move was against an understanding the two sides had reached in 2012 that said any change in the status quo would need the consent of the third country, which in this case was Bhutan.

The Chinese, India said, had violated the 1993 pact on border peace and tranquility.

China was unwilling to go by the 2012 understanding and chose to cite an 1890 treaty it signed with British India in a departure from the past.


The People’s Republic of China, when it launched a series of border negotations, maintained a distinct distaste for colonial era boundary-making. Tri-junctions were never a flashpoint – Doklam was a first but won’t be the last.

The soldiers of the two countries were locked in a standoff in the disputed Himalayan plateau for more than two months after China accused India of trespass. Both China and Bhutan claim Doklam, which borders Sikkim on India’s northeast.


The decision of the two sides to “disengage” was hailed as a diplomatic win for New Delhi as China had put on hold the plan to build a road that triggered the row. Chinese view it as India’s withdrawal.



Conclusion: There are disputed territories and between India and China. There have been many issue one after another. However war is not the solution. Government showed maturity and solved the issue through diplomatic talks, which has been successful. This is not the permanent though; in future there are many issues which can create stress in India- China relation. However, the same maturity is needed while handling such critical issue of international relations.


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