Border tensions continue to simmer between India and China. Even as the leaders of the two countries exchange pleasantries at the G20 summit they are both currently attending, the armies on either side continue to eyeball each other and China continues to protest about alleged infringements by India.
The tensions on the border continue, with the Chinese first shutting down the Mansarovar pilgrimage route, saying that India is aggressing into its territory and now saying that India has “trampled” on the Panchsheel Pact.
The Panchsheel Treaty consists of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence which are the basis for the relationship between India and China. Via these, India and China agree to respect each other's sovereignty and integrity, mutual non-aggression and non- interference in internal affairs, equality and cooperation for mutual benefit and most importantly peaceful coexistence.
Indian authorities have accused China of building a road in disputed territory. This road is near the tri-junction where Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese territories converge. This is also the position of the Royal Bhutanese army. This road construction is close to the Chicken’s Neck sector in Sikkim and would likely endanger the safety and integrity of India as well as hamper access to its northeastern states.
The Dokhlam Plateau is an area that juts down and lies between India (Sikkim) and Bhutan. The plateau is Bhutanese territory but China claims it as Donglang in Southern Tibet. While India wants to continue to maintain the strategic advantage it has in the region, China is desperate to wrest territory for geo-strategic reasons.
China claims that the situation on the border is “worsening” and has asked India to pull back its troops. Chinese authorities also claim that India is being “misleading” when it says that Dokhlam is located at the tri-junction area.
It is India's position that China already has a couple of roads in the area and that extending one of them up to the tri-junction point is problematic because Indian considers this Bhutanese territory. A Chinese road will give China easy access in the event of armed conflict with India. Things came to a head in early June when Chinese road construction equipment, labor and earth movers moved into the area.
As China tries to gain a foothold in the area and India tries to preserve its interest, the Chinese side continues with its angry posturing, saying Indian troops are still “standing in Chinese territory”. The talks related to resolution of the long standing boundary issue are likely to be negatively impacted as a result of the current standoff.
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