China- Bhutan boundary talks

Significance of Talks: 

• Boundary talks between Bhutan and China were held after a gap of seven years.
• The Doklam standoff between the Indian and Chinese forces in 2017 and the COVID-19 epidemic in 2019–2021 seemed to have delayed the 25th round.

The 3 Step Roadmap: 

• 3-Step roadmap MoU signed by the both countries in 2021 is  an attempt to delineate Bhutanese and Chinese territory for the first time.

It  involves 

• agreeing to the border on the table 
• visiting the sites on the ground
• then formally demarcating the boundary.

• Since Bhutan avoided diplomatic connections with every permanent member of the UN Security Council, it does not have diplomatic ties with China. 

India keeping an eye: 

• China has proposed   an agreement to “swap” areas in Doklam under Bhutanese control with areas in Jakarlung and Pasamlung which China claims.
• Doklam trijunction cuts very close to India’s Siliguri corridor.
• According to the Pentagon,  China has  built underground storage facilities, new roads  and new villages in disputed areas in neighbouring Bhutan. 

• This has negated the  strategic gains that India anticipated  after China agreed to step back from the standoff point in 2017.

• China’s demand for full diplomatic relations with Bhutan and the establishment of an embassy in Thimphu is also the cause of India’s concern.

Why in news?

• China and Bhutan held their 25th round of boundary talks in Beijing. 
• They signed a Cooperation Agreement on the Responsibilities and Functions of the Joint Technical Team (JTT) on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary.