Border Trijunction: Doklam (Doko La)
Doko La (Doklam) is a strategical tri-junction of India, Bhutan and China. Doklam is recognised as a Bhutanese territory by India and Bhutan. But, China claims some parts of the Doklam Plateau as part of its “ancient” frontier. From 1984, Bhutan and China have conducted nearly 24 rounds of dialogue to delineate the border between them and the process is still going on.
Doklam is in news due to the recent stand-off between Indian and Chinese Army. The reason behind the stand-off was the Chinese attempt to build a road in the strategically located Doklam. On June 16, China attempted to build a road construction by bringing in earthmovers and construction machines in the Doklam area of Bhutan. The Royal Bhutan Army objected to these construction activities in its territory but was outnumbered and pushed back to its post by the China’s PLA following which Bhutan called for the help of Indian Army. India and Bhutan have signed the 2007 Friendship Treaty according to which, India serves as a virtual security guarantor of Bhutan. Indian Army and Bhutan Army do joint patrolling at the tri-junction. The Indian Army had asked the PLA to stop the road construction activity that has resulted in a stand-off.
Implications
Construction of a road in Doklam region will give China a major military advantage over India. It has major security implications for India.
The ongoing Kailash Mansoravar Yatra through the Nathu La pass has been suspended temporarily.
India
India has said that it is deeply concerned over the actions of the Chinese PLA. It has said that it considers such unilateral actions amount to altering the status quo at the trijunction against understanding reached at 2012 round of Sino-Indian Special Representative (SR) dialogue
Bhutan
Bhutan has formally lodged a protest with the Chinese Government through its Embassy situated in New Delhi on June 20th. Bhutan’s foreign ministry has stated that it views the road construction activity inside the Bhutanese territory as a direct violation of the 1988 agreements between Bhutan and China. It has also said that the recent developments will further affect the process of boundary demarcation between both the countries.
