China has built at least 22 villages and settlements within territory traditionally claimed by Bhutan over the past eight years, with eight of these villages located near the strategic Doklam plateau since 2020, according to satellite imagery.
Strategic Location of New Villages
The eight villages in Bhutan’s western sector, close to the Doklam plateau, are strategically situated in valleys or ridges overlooking areas claimed by China. Many of these villages are located near Chinese military outposts or bases. Among the 22 villages identified by observers, the largest is Jiwu, constructed on Tshethangkha, a traditional Bhutanese pastureland, also in the western sector.
The construction of these villages has raised concerns in New Delhi, particularly because China’s growing presence in the region could potentially threaten India’s security, especially the Siliguri Corridor—also known as the “chicken’s neck”—a narrow land link connecting India’s mainland to its northeastern states.
Doklam Standoff and Recent Developments
Doklam gained international attention in 2017 when India intervened to stop China from constructing a road that would give China access to the southern part of the plateau, leading to a 73-day military standoff. Although both sides eventually withdrew their front-line forces, satellite images from recent years have shown continued Chinese construction in the region.
There was no immediate comment from India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding the new developments.
China’s Territorial Expansion
According to reports, China has annexed approximately 825 square kilometers of Bhutanese land, constituting about 2% of Bhutan’s territory. Since 2016, China has constructed 22 villages and settlements in areas traditionally part of Bhutan, relocating nearly 7,000 people into these regions. The villages are connected by roads to Chinese towns, and several settlements were built as recently as 2023, signaling an acceleration in construction activity.
Concerns Over Violation of Agreements
Ashok Kantha, former Indian envoy to Beijing, expressed concerns that China’s construction of villages within Bhutanese territory violates the 1998 India-China agreement on maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas. The agreement stipulates that both sides should refrain from unilateral actions that alter the status quo along the boundary, a principle that China is seen to be violating with these developments.
Kantha highlighted that the establishment of these villages is part of China’s broader strategy of gradually altering facts on the ground, similar to its actions in the South China Sea. He also pointed out that Bhutan, due to the power imbalance, has been unable to challenge China’s actions effectively.
Implications for India and Bhutan
For India, the issue of Doklam remains central, given its strategic significance. However, Bhutan has maintained that any resolution of the Doklam issue will involve India, China, and Bhutan in trilateral discussions. As China continues to apply pressure, experts suggest that Bhutan may eventually have to accommodate China’s growing influence, which could involve allowing China to establish an embassy in Thimphu and increase trade with China.
