Bhutan caught in big neighbour stand-off

Sajjad Ashraf, The Straits Times

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India-China row over border area highlights the tiny kingdom's dilemma

Excerpt:

While much of the world has remained engrossed in the United States-North Korea sabre-rattling, less attention has been focused on another important point of contention.

China and India - the world's two most populous nations - have been engaged in confrontational exchanges over a remote Himalayan border area for more than two months.

The Doklam plateau lies at the cross-junction of China, India and Bhutan. It is disputed by Bhutan and China. India supports Bhutan's claim, but as it lies adjacent to China's border, China has effective control of the area. ...

Against this backdrop, India should be concerned that next year's parliamentary elections in Bhutan will allow its citizens to vent their concerns over how far their country can continue to be branded India's protectorate. In fact, China subtly promotes this debate through its economic clout and public diplomacy.

As India does not have legal standing to engage China on Doklam, the more this stand-off drags on, the more the respective positions will harden, more likely to India's disadvantage.

Yet, unless the Chinese agree to withdraw under a mutual arrangement, India will be hard-pressed to accept the new Chinese presence further south in Doklam. Likewise, the extension of the road south will change the status quo to India's disadvantage.

Beijing might also settle for an understanding now if India acknowledges China's effective jurisdiction of the area, pending final settlement, in exchange for the restoration of the status quo as of June 16.

While tiny Bhutan is caught in a big neighbour stand-off, the only solution lies in mutual empathy and accommodation of one another's concerns and withdrawals to agreed positions. The parties will then need to muster the political will to resolve the contentious issues, shorn of external influences.