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Doklam
Coordinates: 2718N 8856E
Contents
1 Treaty of 1890 and the British
2 Bhutan and China border agreements 1988 and 1998
3 2017 Doklam crisis
4 See also
5 References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 1/6
8/1/2017 Doklam - Wikipedia
The boundary of Sikkim and Tibet shall be the crest of the mountain range separating the waters
flowing into the Sikkim Teesta and its affluents from the waters flowing into the Tibetan Mochu and
northwards into other Rivers of Tibet. The line commences at Mount Gipmochi on the Bhutan frontier,
and follows the above-mentioned water-parting to the point where it meets Nipal territory" .
The Mochu River today is more commonly called the Amo Chu or, further south, the Torsa River. The Diplomat
has commented that the continuous mountain crest or watershed appears to begin very near Batang La, four km
north of Doka La and six km north of Mount Gipmochi (Gymo Chen), and that this suggests a contradiction
between the two sentences of the above article of the treaty.[11] This Batang La location is depicted and claimed as
the tripoint by Bhutan and India.
"Boundary talks are ongoing between Bhutan and China and we have written agreements of 1988 and
1998 stating that the two sides agree to maintain peace and tranquility in their border areas pending a
final settlement on the boundary question, and to maintain status quo on the boundary as before March
1959. The agreements also state that the two sides will refrain from taking unilateral action, or use of
force, to change the status quo of the boundary."
In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the
Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate
closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests.[18]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 2/6
8/1/2017 Doklam - Wikipedia
Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador of India to China, Nirupama Rao said about the dispute,
"Bhutan and India enjoy the closest relationship of mutual trust and confidence and enduring
friendship. There is absolutely no controversy about military-to-military cooperation and
understanding between our two countries. India holds Bhutanese sovereignty as sacred and
inviolable."[18]
India and Bhutan voluntarily still maintain very strong comprehensive ties,[19][20][21][22] parts of which are focused
at mutually countering aggression from China.[23] Bhutan has no diplomatic ties with China.[24] Bhutan formally
protested against China's incursion into its territory and sought India's help under the friendship treaty against
Chinese incursion.[25] Near the disputed area inside Bhutan, India maintains an Indian Military Training Team
(IMTRAT) and the Indian Army Corps of Engineers' Border Roads Organisation has built over 15 1,500 kilometres
(930 mi) roads, airports, helipads, etc for Bhutan's defence and transport.[26][27][28] Ambassador of Bhutan to India
Vetsop Namgyel stated,
"Doklam is a disputed territory and Bhutan has a written agreement with China that pending the final
resolution of the boundary issue, peace and tranquillity should be maintained in the area."
India charges that China has violated this 'peace agreement' by trying to construct roads in Doklam.[29]
India has criticised China for "crossing the border" and attempting to construct a road (allegedly done "illegally"),
while China has criticised India for entering its "territory".[24]
On 29 June 2017, Bhutan protested to China against the construction of a road in the disputed territory.[30] On the
same day, the Bhutanese border was put on high alert and border security was tightened as a result of the growing
tensions.[31] On the same day, China released a map depicting Doklam as part of China. China claimed, via the
map, that territory south to Gipmochi belonged to China and claimed it was supported by the 1890 Britain-China
treaty.[32] On 3 July 2017, China told India that former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru accepted the 1890
Britain-China treaty.[33] China claimed on 5 July 2017 it had for the past 24 months a "basic consensus" with
Bhutan that Doklam belonged to China, and there was no dispute between the two countries.[34] Contrary to
Chinese claim, Nehrus 26 September 1959 letter to Zhou, cited by China, was a point-by-point refutation of the
claims made by the latter on 8 September 1959. Nehru made is amply clear in his refutal that the 1890 treaty
defined only the northern part of the Sikkim-Tibet border and not the tri-junction area. Nehru wrote,
rectification of errors in Chinese maps regarding the boundary of Bhutan with Tibet is therefore a
matter which has to be discussed along with the boundary of India with the Tibet region of China in
the same sector."
The Chinese had quoted Nehru's statement out of context, as Nehru in his reply had made it clear boundaries of
Sikkim and Bhutan did not fall within the scope of the discussion,
This Convention of 1890 also defined the boundary between Sikkim and Tibet; and the boundary was
later, in 1895, demarcated. There is thus no dispute regarding the boundary of Sikkim with the Tibet
region".[35]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 3/6
8/1/2017 Doklam - Wikipedia
"The so-called tri-junction, as the name suggests, is a point. It is not a line, much less an area. India
misinterprets tri-junction point as an area, from ulterior motives. This time, the trespassing point of
India army, is on the Sikkim-China border, which is 2000 metres away from the tri-junction point,
Mount Gipmochi, by the 1890 Treaty." [36]
On 19 July 2017 China renewed its call for India to withdraw its troops from Doklam. It followed reports that
claimed China held live firing drills in the region.[37]
See also
BhutanChina border Senkaku Islands dispute
BhutanChina relations Sino-Indian border dispute
BhutanIndia relations Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
ChinaIndia relations
Senkaku Islands dispute
References
13. Staff (28 June 2017). "Indian bunker in Sikkim removed by China: Sources" (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.c
om/india/indian-bunker-in-sikkim-removed-by-china-sources/articleshow/59354787.cms). The Times of
India. Archived (http://www.webcitation.org/6rkUEInnv?http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-bu
nker-in-sikkim-removed-by-china-sources/articleshow/59354787.cms) from the original on 6 July 2017.
14. Shaurya Karanbir Gurung Behind China's Sikkim aggression, a plan to isolate Northeast from rest of India
(http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/border-face-off-why-china-tries-to-break-chickens-neck
-to-isolate-northeast/articleshow/59420472.cms/), Economic Times, 3 July 2017.
15. Ankit Panda, What's Driving the India-China Standoff at Doklam? (http://thediplomat.com/2017/07/whats-dr
iving-the-india-china-standoff-at-doklam/), The Diplomat, 18 July 2017.
16. Online, Asia Time. "Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan"
(http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IA17Df02.html). www.atimes.com. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
horizontal tab character in |title= at position 76 (help)
17. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Editorial" (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020405/edit.htm#5).
www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
18. Devirupa Mitra, Six Expert Views on How India Should Look at the Latest Border Stand-Off With China (ht
tps://thewire.in/154449/expert-gyan-india-china-bhutan/), The Wire (https://thewire.in), 05 July 2017.
19. "India's Modi heads to Bhutan to woo neighbours" (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/india
-s-modi-heads-to/1160430.html). Channel NewsAsia. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
20. "India, Bhutan to enhance economic ties as PM Modi pitches for 'B2B' links" (http://www.hindustantimes.co
m/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-arrives-to-a-grand-welcome-in-bhutan/article1-1229665.aspx). Hindustan
Times. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
21. "Modi inaugurates Bhutan's Supreme Court building" (http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/m
odi-inaugurates-bhutan-s-supreme-court-building-114061500581_1.html). Business Standard. Retrieved
15 June 2014.
22. "Bhutan Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi" (http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/bh
utan-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-prime-minister-narendra-modi-541836). NDTV. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
23. Rajeev Sharma. "NE terror, China: What's on PM Modi's Bhutan trip agenda?" (http://www.firstpost.com/wo
rld/ne-terror-china-whats-on-pm-modis-bhutan-trip-agenda-1571127.html). Firstpost. Retrieved 15 June
2014.
24. Som, Vishnu (29 June 2017). Shukla, Shuchi, ed. "At Heart Of India-China Standoff, A Road Being Built:
10 Points" (http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amid-india-china-standoff-army-chief-in-sikkim-today-10-facts
-1718311). NDTV. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170629084547/http://www.ndtv.com/india-new
s/amid-india-china-standoff-army-chief-in-sikkim-today-10-facts-1718311) from the original on 29 June
2017.
25. Smriti Jain, India China standoff over Bhutan Doklam region: Is a 1962-like war on the cards, as claimed by
Chinese media? (http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/india-china-sikkim-border-standoff-2017-bhut
an-doklam-1962-war-chinese-media-defence-experts/750439/), The Financial Express, 5 July 2017.
26. "Dantak" (http://www.bro.nic.in/indexmain.asp?projectid=23). Border Roads Organisation. Government of
India. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
27. "Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), Bhutan" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090619071032/http://in
dianarmy.nic.in/index_imtrat.htm). Indian Army. Archived from the original (http://indianarmy.nic.in/index_
imtrat.htm) on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
28. Choden, Tashi (Winter 2004). "Indo-Bhutan Relations Recent Trends" (http://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/pub
Files/v11-6.pdf) (PDF). Journal of Bhutan Studies. Centre for Bhutan Studies. 11 (6): 119. Retrieved
1 November 2011.
29. Sikkim standoff: Beijing should realise Bhutan is as important to India as North Korea is to China (http://ww
w.firstpost.com/world/sikkim-standoff-beijing-should-realise-bhutan-is-as-important-to-india-as-north-korea
-is-to-china-3760997.html), First Post (http://www.firstpost.com), 30 June 2017.
30. "Bhutan protests against China's road construction" (http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/bhutan-protests-agains
t-chinas-road-construction). The Straits Times. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
31. "Bhutan issues scathing statement against China, claims Beijing violated border agreements of 1988, 1998"
(http://www.firstpost.com/india/bhutan-issues-scathing-statement-against-china-claims-beijing-violated-bord
er-agreements-of-1988-1998-3760587.html). Firstpost. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 5/6
8/1/2017 Doklam - Wikipedia
32. "EXCLUSIVE: China releases new map showing territorial claims at stand-off site" (http://indiatoday.intoda
y.in/story/china-releases-new-map-territorial-claims-stand-off-site/1/991733.html). Retrieved 6 July 2017.
33. "Nehru Accepted 1890 Treaty; India Using Bhutan to Cover up Entry: China" (http://www.news18.com/new
s/world/nehru-accepted-1890-treaty-india-using-bhutan-to-cover-up-entry-china-1450635.html). Retrieved
6 July 2017.
34. PTI (5 July 2017). "No dispute with Bhutan in Doklam: China" (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/
defence/no-dispute-with-bhutan-in-doklam-china/articleshow/59456533.cms). Retrieved 6 July 2017 via
The Economic Times.
35. A.S. Nazir Ahamad, Did Nehru really accept the Sino-British Treaty as final word on the border issue? (htt
p://www.thehindu.com/news/international/did-nehru-really-accept-the-sino-british-treaty-as-final-word-on-t
he-sikkim-border-issue/article19210128.ece), The Hindu, 4 July 2017.
36. "Ulterior motives: so-called "tri-junction" " (http://epaper.southcn.com/nfdaily/html/2017-07/08/content_765
1485.htm). Southern Daily, China. 8 July 2017.
37. "China holds live-fire drills in disputed Himalayan territory, tells India to withdraw" (http://www.arabnews.c
om/node/1131641/world). 19 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doklam 6/6