Bhutan and China to hold border talks

Bhutan and China are scheduled to hold another round of border talks in Thimphu in March – shortly after the secret visit of top Indian officials – National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Army chief General Bipin Rawat.

Chinese delegation is likely to be led by Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyu and Bhutanese delegation by Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji for the high level talks.

Despite several round of talks in years, Bhutan and China failed to resolve any border disputes.

The boundary talks were cancelled last year in the wake of the Doklam crisis, when Indian and Chinese troops faced off in the remote Himalayan plateau for 73 days in territory claimed by both Bhutan and China.

King Jigme Wangchuck retains control of the country’s foreign and security policies, while his father remains a key advisor.

Chinese are likely to press Bhutan for exchanging territory — territory in the southern Doklam plateau, which is close to India’s Siliguri corridor, for territory in the north and east that Bhutan wants.

It is not sure, if the Indian establishment would approve that, as the Doklam plateau is a sensitive security location.