Bhutan said today that its boundary with China is "under negotiation" and hasn't been demarcated.&nbsp;

"Twenty-four rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks have been held, the 25th round was delayed due to COVID-19," the Royal Bhutan embassy in India said in a statement.

"All disputed areas to be discussed in next round, to be held as soon as mutually convenient," it added.&nbsp;"The boundary between&nbsp;Bhutan-China is under negotiation&nbsp;and hasn't been demarcated," the statement said.&nbsp;

The development comes amid reports of China claiming the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary which falls in the Trashi-gang district. China had objected to the sanctuary&nbsp;asserting that it was on its land and not part of Bhutan.

China said it was "disputed" and asserted its claim. "The Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is located in the China-Bhutan disputed areas which is on the agenda of China-Bhutan boundary talk" and "China opposes and does not join the council decision on this project," it said.

"The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited," the Chinese foreign ministry had said earlier. Bhutan, on the other hand, had said that the sanctuary is an "integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan".

The two countries will now seek to resolve the issue over the next round of talks. The dates of the talks have not been communicated yet by the two countries.

Bhutan said today that its boundary with China is "under negotiation" and hasn't been demarcated. "Twenty-four rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks have been held, the 25th round was delayed due to COVID-19," the Royal Bhutan embassy in India said in a statement.

Bhutan said today that its boundary with China is "under negotiation" and hasn't been demarcated. "Twenty-four rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks have been held, the 25th round was delayed due to COVID-19," the Royal Bhutan embassy in India said in a statement. "All disputed areas to be discussed in next round, to be held as soon as mutually convenient," it added. "The boundary between Bhutan-China is under negotiation and hasn't been demarcated," the statement said. The development comes amid reports of China claiming the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary which falls in the Trashi-gang district. China had objected to the sanctuary asserting that it was on its land and not part of Bhutan. China said it was "disputed" and asserted its claim. "The Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is located in the China-Bhutan disputed areas which is on the agenda of China-Bhutan boundary talk" and "China opposes and does not join the council decision on this project," it said. "The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited," the Chinese foreign ministry had said earlier. Bhutan, on the other hand, had said that the sanctuary is an "integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan". The two countries will now seek to resolve the issue over the next round of talks. The dates of the talks have not been communicated yet by the two countries.

Boundary with China under negotiation, it hasn't been demarcated: Bhutan

Former Indian diplomat NN Jha hailed the recent Bhutan general elections and congratulated centre-left Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) party for their victory, saying that the party is committed to friendship with India.

The DNT, which was formed in 2013, swept the polls, garnering at least 30 seats, with royalist Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) winning the remaining 17 in the 47-member lower house of the Bhutan Parliament.

"This party is committed to friendship with India and continuing our close ties with Bhutan. The political parties of both India and Bhutan want to have a good relationship with each other. However, we need to keep in mind about the Chinese presence, not only across the border, but in Bhutan as well. Otherwise, there is nothing to worry about," Jha told ANI.

Echoing similar sentiments, former Foreign Secretary Salman Haider said that the ties between New Delhi and Thimphu are very strong and will continue to flourish. He also lauded the recent general elections that took place in the tiny Himalayan nation.

"We respect Bhutan's democratic processes. The people have demonstrated their (voting) rights. It is a major step in Bhutan's revolution as a democratic country. The friendship between India and Bhutan is very strong and well-established and it will continue to flourish," he told ANI.

Bhutan went to polls earlier on Thursday. Both the DNT and DPT fielded 47 candidates each in the final round in a bid to lead the young democracy for the next five years. The tiny Himalayan nation transitioned from a century-old monarchy to democracy in 2008.

DNT President Lotay Tshering, who joined politics in 2013, is set to take office as the new Prime Minister of Bhutan.

In a telephonic conversation on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended good wishes to Tshering on his party's victory and welcomed the successful conduct of general elections. He conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further strengthening the unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, which is based on shared interests and values, utmost trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding. The Prime Minister also invited Tshering to visit India.

Tshering thanked Prime Minister Modi for his greetings and good wishes and accepted the invitation to visit India at the earliest opportunity. The two leaders also agreed to take forward the unique and multifaceted bilateral co-operation to new heights for the benefit of the people of Bhutan and India.

According to the Buddhist country's constitution, only two parties with highest votes in the primary round qualify for the final round. A voter turnout of over 70 per cent was recorded in the general elections, as per the country's election commission.

The ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay faced a drubbing in the round held in September and got ousted from the contest.

Former Indian diplomat NN Jha hailed the recent Bhutan general elections and congratulated centre-left Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) party for their victory, saying that the party is committed to friendship with India.

Former Indian diplomat NN Jha hailed the recent Bhutan general elections and congratulated centre-left Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) party for their victory, saying that the party is committed to friendship with India. The DNT, which was formed in 2013, swept the polls, garnering at least 30 seats, with royalist Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) winning the remaining 17 in the 47-member lower house of the Bhutan Parliament. "This party is committed to friendship with India and continuing our close ties with Bhutan. The political parties of both India and Bhutan want to have a good relationship with each other. However, we need to keep in mind about the Chinese presence, not only across the border, but in Bhutan as well. Otherwise, there is nothing to worry about," Jha told ANI. Echoing similar sentiments, former Foreign Secretary Salman Haider said that the ties between New Delhi and Thimphu are very strong and will continue to flourish. He also lauded the recent general elections that took place in the tiny Himalayan nation. "We respect Bhutan's democratic processes. The people have demonstrated their (voting) rights. It is a major step in Bhutan's revolution as a democratic country. The friendship between India and Bhutan is very strong and well-established and it will continue to flourish," he told ANI. Bhutan went to polls earlier on Thursday. Both the DNT and DPT fielded 47 candidates each in the final round in a bid to lead the young democracy for the next five years. The tiny Himalayan nation transitioned from a century-old monarchy to democracy in 2008. DNT President Lotay Tshering, who joined politics in 2013, is set to take office as the new Prime Minister of Bhutan. In a telephonic conversation on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended good wishes to Tshering on his party's victory and welcomed the successful conduct of general elections. He conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to further strengthening the unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, which is based on shared interests and values, utmost trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding. The Prime Minister also invited Tshering to visit India. Tshering thanked Prime Minister Modi for his greetings and good wishes and accepted the invitation to visit India at the earliest opportunity. The two leaders also agreed to take forward the unique and multifaceted bilateral co-operation to new heights for the benefit of the people of Bhutan and India. According to the Buddhist country's constitution, only two parties with highest votes in the primary round qualify for the final round. A voter turnout of over 70 per cent was recorded in the general elections, as per the country's election commission. The ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay faced a drubbing in the round held in September and got ousted from the contest.

Bhutan's DNT party committed to friendly ties with India

Bhutan's voters on Thursday gave an overwhelming victory to a new party headed by a surgeon in only the third democratic election held by the Himalayan kingdom, according to provisional results.

The country of 800,000 people, wedged between giant neighbours China and India and known for its Gross National Happiness index, has now chosen a different party to rule at each election since the end of absolute monarchy in 2008.&nbsp;

The centre-left Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), which was only formed in 2013, won 30 of the 47 national assembly seats, according to the provisional results released by Bhutan's election commision. Official results are expected to be announced soon.

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) secured the other 17 seats in the runoff contest limited to the two parties who led a first round of voting in September. The last ruling party was excluded in the contest.

DNT leader Lotay Tshering, a 50-year-old urology surgeon who trained in Bangladesh and Australia, vowed to work for "nation building" in the country which is battling high foreign debt, mainly owed to India, as well as youth employment, rural poverty and criminal gangs.

Both parties had vowed to boost the economy with Tshering's party using the slogan "Narrowing The Gap".

The election saw a 70 per cent turnout and record 11 women win seats.

The DPT, which won Bhutan's first election in 2008 but did not get a seat in the 2013 vote, had wanted to accelerate the building of hydropower plants which dominate the economy, with electricity mainly exported to India.&nbsp;

The DNT has been more wary about increasing Bhutan's debt to pay for more power plants.

New friends needed

Hydropower financing -- which comes to more than $1.5 billion -- accounts for more than 80 per cent of Bhutan's foreign debt. Most is owed to India, which has financed four out of five of the kingdom's new hydro-electric projects.

Bhutan has tried to shield itself from the downsides of globalisation, striving for "Gross National Happiness" over GDP growth, maintaining a carbon-negative economy and keeping tourist numbers down with a daily fee of $250 per visitor in high season.

While Bhutan is proud of its cultural and political independence and has diplomatic relations with barely 50 countries, it knows it will have to open up.

Foreign policy was kept out of the election campaign, however. During the 2013 campaign, fearing that Bhutan was moving too close to China, India withdrew subsidies for kerosene and cooking gas imports, in what was seen as an attempt to coerce a change of government.

Relations with India remain sensitive. At least five candidates and activists were fined up to two month's wages for sending instant messenger statements to groups on relations with India, the Bhutan election commission said.

Last year India and China became embroiled in a military standoff over the Doklam plateau claimed by China and Bhutan, and which sits on a strategic corner where the three countries meet.

India, which has a military presence in Bhutan, stepped in to prevent Chinese border guards from building a road there.&nbsp;

Even though Bhutan does not have diplomatic ties with Beijing, its giant neighbour is the third biggest source of imported goods and wealthy Chinese tourists are a valuable new source of income.

A growing number of Bhutanese feel the country should rely less on India and give China and others a chance to boost the economy and create new jobs. "Bhutan should make friends with other countries," said taxi driver Kinzang Dorji.

Bhutan's voters on Thursday gave an overwhelming victory to a new party headed by a surgeon in only the third democratic election held by the Himalayan kingdom, according to provisional results.

Bhutan's voters on Thursday gave an overwhelming victory to a new party headed by a surgeon in only the third democratic election held by the Himalayan kingdom, according to provisional results. The country of 800,000 people, wedged between giant neighbours China and India and known for its Gross National Happiness index, has now chosen a different party to rule at each election since the end of absolute monarchy in 2008. The centre-left Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), which was only formed in 2013, won 30 of the 47 national assembly seats, according to the provisional results released by Bhutan's election commision. Official results are expected to be announced soon. Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) secured the other 17 seats in the runoff contest limited to the two parties who led a first round of voting in September. The last ruling party was excluded in the contest. DNT leader Lotay Tshering, a 50-year-old urology surgeon who trained in Bangladesh and Australia, vowed to work for "nation building" in the country which is battling high foreign debt, mainly owed to India, as well as youth employment, rural poverty and criminal gangs. Both parties had vowed to boost the economy with Tshering's party using the slogan "Narrowing The Gap". The election saw a 70 per cent turnout and record 11 women win seats. The DPT, which won Bhutan's first election in 2008 but did not get a seat in the 2013 vote, had wanted to accelerate the building of hydropower plants which dominate the economy, with electricity mainly exported to India. The DNT has been more wary about increasing Bhutan's debt to pay for more power plants. New friends needed Hydropower financing -- which comes to more than $1.5 billion -- accounts for more than 80 per cent of Bhutan's foreign debt. Most is owed to India, which has financed four out of five of the kingdom's new hydro-electric projects. Bhutan has tried to shield itself from the downsides of globalisation, striving for "Gross National Happiness" over GDP growth, maintaining a carbon-negative economy and keeping tourist numbers down with a daily fee of $250 per visitor in high season. While Bhutan is proud of its cultural and political independence and has diplomatic relations with barely 50 countries, it knows it will have to open up. Foreign policy was kept out of the election campaign, however. During the 2013 campaign, fearing that Bhutan was moving too close to China, India withdrew subsidies for kerosene and cooking gas imports, in what was seen as an attempt to coerce a change of government. Relations with India remain sensitive. At least five candidates and activists were fined up to two month's wages for sending instant messenger statements to groups on relations with India, the Bhutan election commission said. Last year India and China became embroiled in a military standoff over the Doklam plateau claimed by China and Bhutan, and which sits on a strategic corner where the three countries meet. India, which has a military presence in Bhutan, stepped in to prevent Chinese border guards from building a road there. Even though Bhutan does not have diplomatic ties with Beijing, its giant neighbour is the third biggest source of imported goods and wealthy Chinese tourists are a valuable new source of income. A growing number of Bhutanese feel the country should rely less on India and give China and others a chance to boost the economy and create new jobs. "Bhutan should make friends with other countries," said taxi driver Kinzang Dorji.

Bhutan chooses new party to form government

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) is set to win National Assembly elections in Bhutan.

The centre-left party's mandate was to have better relations with India before going to polls for the 47-member lower house of the Parliament.

Provisional results show the DNT winning at least 30 seats, with royalist Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) leading on remaining 17.

The tiny Himalayan nation went to polls earlier on Thursday.

Both the DNT and DPT fielded 47 candidates each in the final round in a bid to lead the young democracy for the next five years.

Bhutan transitioned from a century-old monarchy to democracy in 2008.

According to the Buddhist country's constitution, only two parties with highest votes in the primary round qualify for the final round.

The ruling People's Democratic Party of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay faced a drubbing in the round held in September and got ousted from the contest.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) is set to win National Assembly elections in Bhutan. The centre-left party's mandate was to have better relations with India before going to polls for the 47-member lower house of the Parliament.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) is set to win National Assembly elections in Bhutan. The centre-left party's mandate was to have better relations with India before going to polls for the 47-member lower house of the Parliament. Provisional results show the DNT winning at least 30 seats, with royalist Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) leading on remaining 17. The tiny Himalayan nation went to polls earlier on Thursday. Both the DNT and DPT fielded 47 candidates each in the final round in a bid to lead the young democracy for the next five years. Bhutan transitioned from a century-old monarchy to democracy in 2008. According to the Buddhist country's constitution, only two parties with highest votes in the primary round qualify for the final round. The ruling People's Democratic Party of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay faced a drubbing in the round held in September and got ousted from the contest.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa party set to win Bhutan elections

A peep into a Thimphu toy shop shows stacks of Pokemons, all made in China, a testimony to the quiet overtures Beijing is making in Bhutan at rival India's expense.

China's annexation of Tibet in 1951 and an unresolved border dispute have long been irritants in ties with Bhutan, and India would prefer they remain estranged.

India jumped to Bhutan's defence last year when Chinese troops started building a road on Doklam, a territory claimed by both China and Bhutan. &nbsp;

The eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation lasted 72 days before the Indian and Chinese armies pulled back.

But now Beijing is seeking to mend relations and extend a hand of friendship to the tiny Himalayan kingdom, despite the two having no diplomatic relations.

Chinese shipments have shot up in the past decade, with goods from machinery and cement to electricals and toys making Beijing the third largest source of foreign products to heavily import-dependent Bhutan.

And stuck between the competing regional powers, Bhutan has been gasping to assert its sovereignty and shrug off decades of heavy dependence on India.

Many among Bhutan's 800,000 population feel India's embrace is becoming a stranglehold and getting in the way of Thimpu's ties with other countries.

"Within Bhutan, there is a growing demand to diversify and loosen its dependence on India," University of British Columbia historian Tsering Shakya said.

"However, given the geography and history it is not easy for Bhutan to ignore India's interest."&nbsp;

Nestled in the highest, snow-capped mountain range in the world, Bhutan is one of the world's few countries to have never been colonised, and has retained much of its unique culture and charm.

The country's fourth king famously introduced the concept of gross national happiness in the 1970s, shunning the usual gross domestic product used by most modern countries to measure economic growth.&nbsp;

'Jealous big brother'

Bhutan was almost as isolated as the mythical Shangri-La until the early 1960s when its first highway was built.

But it has become increasingly dependent on neighbours, as shown in 2013 when India was accused of triggering a fuel crisis by cutting subsidies on cooking gas and kerosene -- which some say was a punishment to Bhutan for warming up to the Chinese.

"If we (India and Bhutan) are good friends, our friendship shouldn't be affected by our relations with other countries," said Vimla Pradhan, a 21-year-old college student.

"It appears as if everything Bhutan does, it should have tacit approval from India. India will always come before others but please don't behave like a jealous big brother," she told AFP in Thimpu.

Pradhan, who studies political science and philosophy, is not isolated in her views.

Many aspiring Bhutanese are restless for new opportunities at a time when youth unemployment is 10.6 percent against the national average of 2.4 percent.

India has been generous with loans and grants but Bhutan could do with more investment, and China has deep pockets.

"Where are the jobs? Look at any nook and corner and you will find young men hanging around aimlessly," said Karma Choden, a mother of two, as she waited for customers at a roadside stall selling dry cheese and red chillies.

Bhutan, a growing economy which has been trying to shed its tag as one of the world's least developed countries, is struggling to reduce unemployment as it gears up for only its third ever election on Thursday.

The ruling party was knocked out in the first round of polling in mid-September, signalling the electorate's desperation for change. &nbsp;

Rich dividends

China's policy of mixing soft diplomacy and economic aid has reaped rich dividends in South Asian countries where India has long held sway like Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

China has been reaching out to Bhutan through sports, religious and cultural visits as well as scholarships to Bhutanese students.

Its vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou made a rare trip to Bhutan in July.

Bhutan has also been receiving a growing number of Chinese tourists, who have to pay a sizeable visa fee, unlike their Indian counterparts. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Bhutan surged from fewer than 20 a decade ago to 6,421 in 2017, according to official figures.&nbsp;

Taxi driver Kinzang Dorji is unable to make much sense of Bhutan's diplomacy and history. But he understands the value of foreign investment.

"Bhutan should make friends with other countries," Dorji said. &nbsp;

"Many Chinese tourists have started coming and they are bringing in a lot of money. We don't mind them at all," he said before zooming past a Chinese restaurant in the heart of Thimphu. 
&nbsp;

A peep into a Thimphu toy shop shows stacks of Pokemons, all made in China, a testimony to the quiet overtures Beijing is making in Bhutan at rival India's expense.

A peep into a Thimphu toy shop shows stacks of Pokemons, all made in China, a testimony to the quiet overtures Beijing is making in Bhutan at rival India's expense. China's annexation of Tibet in 1951 and an unresolved border dispute have long been irritants in ties with Bhutan, and India would prefer they remain estranged. India jumped to Bhutan's defence last year when Chinese troops started building a road on Doklam, a territory claimed by both China and Bhutan. The eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation lasted 72 days before the Indian and Chinese armies pulled back. But now Beijing is seeking to mend relations and extend a hand of friendship to the tiny Himalayan kingdom, despite the two having no diplomatic relations. Chinese shipments have shot up in the past decade, with goods from machinery and cement to electricals and toys making Beijing the third largest source of foreign products to heavily import-dependent Bhutan. And stuck between the competing regional powers, Bhutan has been gasping to assert its sovereignty and shrug off decades of heavy dependence on India. Many among Bhutan's 800,000 population feel India's embrace is becoming a stranglehold and getting in the way of Thimpu's ties with other countries. "Within Bhutan, there is a growing demand to diversify and loosen its dependence on India," University of British Columbia historian Tsering Shakya said. "However, given the geography and history it is not easy for Bhutan to ignore India's interest." Nestled in the highest, snow-capped mountain range in the world, Bhutan is one of the world's few countries to have never been colonised, and has retained much of its unique culture and charm. The country's fourth king famously introduced the concept of gross national happiness in the 1970s, shunning the usual gross domestic product used by most modern countries to measure economic growth. 'Jealous big brother' Bhutan was almost as isolated as the mythical Shangri-La until the early 1960s when its first highway was built. But it has become increasingly dependent on neighbours, as shown in 2013 when India was accused of triggering a fuel crisis by cutting subsidies on cooking gas and kerosene -- which some say was a punishment to Bhutan for warming up to the Chinese. "If we (India and Bhutan) are good friends, our friendship shouldn't be affected by our relations with other countries," said Vimla Pradhan, a 21-year-old college student. "It appears as if everything Bhutan does, it should have tacit approval from India. India will always come before others but please don't behave like a jealous big brother," she told AFP in Thimpu. Pradhan, who studies political science and philosophy, is not isolated in her views. Many aspiring Bhutanese are restless for new opportunities at a time when youth unemployment is 10.6 percent against the national average of 2.4 percent. India has been generous with loans and grants but Bhutan could do with more investment, and China has deep pockets. "Where are the jobs? Look at any nook and corner and you will find young men hanging around aimlessly," said Karma Choden, a mother of two, as she waited for customers at a roadside stall selling dry cheese and red chillies. Bhutan, a growing economy which has been trying to shed its tag as one of the world's least developed countries, is struggling to reduce unemployment as it gears up for only its third ever election on Thursday. The ruling party was knocked out in the first round of polling in mid-September, signalling the electorate's desperation for change. Rich dividends China's policy of mixing soft diplomacy and economic aid has reaped rich dividends in South Asian countries where India has long held sway like Sri Lanka and the Maldives. China has been reaching out to Bhutan through sports, religious and cultural visits as well as scholarships to Bhutanese students. Its vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou made a rare trip to Bhutan in July. Bhutan has also been receiving a growing number of Chinese tourists, who have to pay a sizeable visa fee, unlike their Indian counterparts. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Bhutan surged from fewer than 20 a decade ago to 6,421 in 2017, according to official figures. Taxi driver Kinzang Dorji is unable to make much sense of Bhutan's diplomacy and history. But he understands the value of foreign investment. "Bhutan should make friends with other countries," Dorji said. "Many Chinese tourists have started coming and they are bringing in a lot of money. We don't mind them at all," he said before zooming past a Chinese restaurant in the heart of Thimphu.

Bhutan polls: China woos Himalayan kingdom, to India's displeasure

Did China not anticipate the Indian reaction to its road building on the Doklam Plateau? &nbsp;Some of the Indian analysis suggests&nbsp;this may be the case given the intensity of Beijing&#39;s response and the continuing barrage of criticism from its state-controlled media.&nbsp;

A former Indian Army commander who served in the area provided some perspective: &quot;The brinkmanship we see from their side is part of their policy, they think they can browbeat us but we must not blink,&quot; he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

He pointed out that India had no alternative since China was altering the status quo on the plateau, so &quot;we had to stop them.&quot; &nbsp;He would not comment on whether India reacted on its own upon seeing what the Chinese were up to, or did it act upon Bhutan&#39;s complaint. &nbsp;But he acknowledged that this scenario had been war gamed by the army brass, and its implications thought through. &nbsp;

A retired brigadier was more direct, saying the Indian Army would have responded to any Chinese provocation in that area on its own regardless of the &quot;sentiments of the Royal Bhutanese Army&quot;. &nbsp;In that sense, It helped that India has a &quot;training team&quot; in Bhutan. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

But is there a larger point here? &nbsp;There is a view that India&#39;s intervention on behalf of its smaller neighbour has upset Beijing. &nbsp;

&quot;We came to the support of Bhutan and that worries them,&quot; said the former army commander. &quot;There was a similar standoff in 1987 in Sumdorong Chu in Arunachal Pradesh which went on for over a year but that was purely bilateral. Here we have intervened in support of a third party.&quot;&nbsp;

It has implications for India&#39;s traditionally negative &#39;Big Brother&#39; image in this region (which among other reasons explains Chinese inroads). If the standoff prolongs, that perception could change to something more favourable towards India. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The standoff has invited considerable comment not from the ruling Nepali establishment but from the Nepali press with some supporting China, others sympathetic to Bhutan (why can&#39;t Thimphu have relations with China?) and some backing India although with caveats: for instance the need for Nepal to resolve its own tri-junction issues with India and China (Lipulekh in western Nepal and Jhinsang Chuli in eastern Nepal).&nbsp;

Some of the comment also reflects Nepal&#39;s ties with India, ties of blood, culture and history (including the 2-3 million Nepalis living and working in India and the 65,000 Nepalis serving in the Indian armed forces). &nbsp;&nbsp;

Sri Lanka has been studiedly silent on the Doklam standoff perhaps with reason: Sri Lanka is indebted to China to the tune of 8 billion dollars. Unable to pay off the debt, it is giving Chinese companies equity in projects like the Hambantota Port. That has ignited a storm of protests from people living near the port whose land the government plans to acquire on behalf of Chinese companies.&nbsp;

To give the Indian devil its due, aid from Delhi has helped Sri Lanka&#39;s social sector, or provided funds and expertise for projects executed by Sri Lankans for Sri Lankans. &nbsp;Which is why India&#39;s decision to stand by Bhutan and take on the Chinese could correct some of the perceptions about India in the neighbourhood.&nbsp;

Looking beyond the neighbourhood, it&#39;s clear that here also India stands alone. The US and Australia have remained neutral, a reflection of how important the China trade and investment is to their economies. The 11-nation ASEAN has kept silent given it is involved in negotiations with the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). &nbsp;As for Europe, apart from some insipid statements from the European Parliament urging India and China to talk, there&#39;s been nothing.&nbsp;

Old ally Russia too has had nothing to say, a reflection again of how indebted it is to Beijing given Western sanctions. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Yes, India is alone in this standoff. But there&#39;s also the buzz that China sees no purpose in escalation. Presently its trade surplus with India is over 50 billion dollars; Chinese companies are moving to India to take advantage of a growing market; there is also perhaps the recognition that China is not liked in most parts of the world and a conflict raises the risk of sanctions and embargoes that could further slow down the economy. &nbsp;So it could well be that the noise over Doklam will subside, hopefully as winter sets in. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The lack of a resolution is troubling. China could well raise temperatures on the plateau (or elsewhere) again. &nbsp;But India could be even better prepared by then.&nbsp;

(WION)

If the Doklam standoff prolongs, India's "big brother" image could change to something more favourable towards India

Did China not anticipate the Indian reaction to its road building on the Doklam Plateau? Some of the Indian analysis suggests this may be the case given the intensity of Beijing's response and the continuing barrage of criticism from its state-controlled media. A former Indian Army commander who served in the area provided some perspective: "The brinkmanship we see from their side is part of their policy, they think they can browbeat us but we must not blink," he said. He pointed out that India had no alternative since China was altering the status quo on the plateau, so "we had to stop them." He would not comment on whether India reacted on its own upon seeing what the Chinese were up to, or did it act upon Bhutan's complaint. But he acknowledged that this scenario had been war gamed by the army brass, and its implications thought through. A retired brigadier was more direct, saying the Indian Army would have responded to any Chinese provocation in that area on its own regardless of the "sentiments of the Royal Bhutanese Army". In that sense, It helped that India has a "training team" in Bhutan. But is there a larger point here? There is a view that India's intervention on behalf of its smaller neighbour has upset Beijing. "We came to the support of Bhutan and that worries them," said the former army commander. "There was a similar standoff in 1987 in Sumdorong Chu in Arunachal Pradesh which went on for over a year but that was purely bilateral. Here we have intervened in support of a third party." It has implications for India's traditionally negative 'Big Brother' image in this region (which among other reasons explains Chinese inroads). If the standoff prolongs, that perception could change to something more favourable towards India. The standoff has invited considerable comment not from the ruling Nepali establishment but from the Nepali press with some supporting China, others sympathetic to Bhutan (why can't Thimphu have relations with China?) and some backing India although with caveats: for instance the need for Nepal to resolve its own tri-junction issues with India and China (Lipulekh in western Nepal and Jhinsang Chuli in eastern Nepal). Some of the comment also reflects Nepal's ties with India, ties of blood, culture and history (including the 2-3 million Nepalis living and working in India and the 65,000 Nepalis serving in the Indian armed forces). Sri Lanka has been studiedly silent on the Doklam standoff perhaps with reason: Sri Lanka is indebted to China to the tune of 8 billion dollars. Unable to pay off the debt, it is giving Chinese companies equity in projects like the Hambantota Port. That has ignited a storm of protests from people living near the port whose land the government plans to acquire on behalf of Chinese companies. To give the Indian devil its due, aid from Delhi has helped Sri Lanka's social sector, or provided funds and expertise for projects executed by Sri Lankans for Sri Lankans. Which is why India's decision to stand by Bhutan and take on the Chinese could correct some of the perceptions about India in the neighbourhood. Looking beyond the neighbourhood, it's clear that here also India stands alone. The US and Australia have remained neutral, a reflection of how important the China trade and investment is to their economies. The 11-nation ASEAN has kept silent given it is involved in negotiations with the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). As for Europe, apart from some insipid statements from the European Parliament urging India and China to talk, there's been nothing. Old ally Russia too has had nothing to say, a reflection again of how indebted it is to Beijing given Western sanctions. Yes, India is alone in this standoff. But there's also the buzz that China sees no purpose in escalation. Presently its trade surplus with India is over 50 billion dollars; Chinese companies are moving to India to take advantage of a growing market; there is also perhaps the recognition that China is not liked in most parts of the world and a conflict raises the risk of sanctions and embargoes that could further slow down the economy. So it could well be that the noise over Doklam will subside, hopefully as winter sets in. The lack of a resolution is troubling. China could well raise temperatures on the plateau (or elsewhere) again. But India could be even better prepared by then. (WION)

How the Chinese incursions in Doklam can change India's position in the region