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

'Occupy, build-up, intimidate and repeat'- this is China's policy towards its neighbours. This is a policy that has no filters, be it small islands or big neighbours. The Chinese regime wants to occupy territories wherever and however it can.

Weeks after China&nbsp;provoked India in Ladakh, China is now eyeing land on the roof of the world -- Bhutan. China has laid claim to the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary.

One of Bhutan's many protected areas, spread across 650 square kilometres of land,&nbsp;is located in the eastern-most part of the kingdom. It falls in the Trashi- gang district. This sanctuary is said to be a lost world of bio-diversity waiting to be discovered. It houses a wide diversity of terrestrial ecosystems, and it his home to isolated nomadic tribes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-exclusive-chinese-troops-pull-back-2-km-from-galwan-clash-site-sources-india-china-311005">Also watch|&nbsp;WION Exclusive: Chinese troops pull back 2 km from Galwan clash site | Sources | India-China</a>

Beijing says this sanctuary is on Chinese land. This the first public instance of China making border claims in eastern Bhutan. It happened at a virtual meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

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A proposal to develop the sanctuary was made at this meeting. China called the area 'disputed' and opposed the request. China stated the reason behind this that "the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is located in the China-Bhutan disputed areas which is on the agenda of China-Bhutan boundary talk" and&nbsp;"China opposes and does not join the council decision on this project."

A 'disputed area'

However, this area was never featured as a disputed area&nbsp;in the many boundary talks between China and Bhutan. Chinese maps as old as 1962 show this sanctuary and surrounding areas as lying with Bhutan.

China is using the same overused two-word answer to justify its claim --&nbsp;historical precedent.

This sanctuary was once a part of Tibet. A 1715 agreement between the Tibetan local government and Bhutan affirmed Tibet's sovereignty over it. However, Bhutanese herders were still allowed to use and develop these grasslands.

So in 1949, it officially became a part of Bhutan and has since lawfully belonged to Bhutan. Since 1984, Bhutan and China have held 24 comprehensive boundary talks and signed several resolutions and not once was the Sakteng sanctuary brought up during these talks or disputed by China.

Chinese foreign ministry's statements have been stating that this issue is set to complicate further in the coming days.

"The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited," the Chinese foreign ministry said.

In simpler words, it means that China and Bhutan don't have a defined border and there are no fixed boundaries. Hence, the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary, as the Chinese call it, is now a disputed land.

This sounds familiar because&nbsp;China used the same reasons to provoke India in Ladakh. It said that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) had never been defined and has used this logic to increase its military presence in disputed areas.&nbsp;

Now it clearly wishes to do the same in Bhutan. Thimphu has&nbsp;issued a demarche to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. Bhutan has categorically stated that the sanctuary is an "integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan".

'Occupy, build-up, intimidate and repeat'- this is China's policy towards its neighbours. This is a policy that has no filters, be it small islands or big neighbours.

'Occupy, build-up, intimidate and repeat'- this is China's policy towards its neighbours. This is a policy that has no filters, be it small islands or big neighbours. The Chinese regime wants to occupy territories wherever and however it can. Weeks after China provoked India in Ladakh, China is now eyeing land on the roof of the world -- Bhutan. China has laid claim to the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary. One of Bhutan's many protected areas, spread across 650 square kilometres of land, is located in the eastern-most part of the kingdom. It falls in the Trashi- gang district. This sanctuary is said to be a lost world of bio-diversity waiting to be discovered. It houses a wide diversity of terrestrial ecosystems, and it his home to isolated nomadic tribes. Also watch| WION Exclusive: Chinese troops pull back 2 km from Galwan clash site | Sources | India-China Beijing says this sanctuary is on Chinese land. This the first public instance of China making border claims in eastern Bhutan. It happened at a virtual meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). A proposal to develop the sanctuary was made at this meeting. China called the area 'disputed' and opposed the request. China stated the reason behind this that "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." A 'disputed area' However, this area was never featured as a disputed area in the many boundary talks between China and Bhutan. Chinese maps as old as 1962 show this sanctuary and surrounding areas as lying with Bhutan. China is using the same overused two-word answer to justify its claim -- historical precedent. This sanctuary was once a part of Tibet. A 1715 agreement between the Tibetan local government and Bhutan affirmed Tibet's sovereignty over it. However, Bhutanese herders were still allowed to use and develop these grasslands. So in 1949, it officially became a part of Bhutan and has since lawfully belonged to Bhutan. Since 1984, Bhutan and China have held 24 comprehensive boundary talks and signed several resolutions and not once was the Sakteng sanctuary brought up during these talks or disputed by China. Chinese foreign ministry's statements have been stating that this issue is set to complicate further in the coming days. "The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited," the Chinese foreign ministry said. In simpler words, it means that China and Bhutan don't have a defined border and there are no fixed boundaries. Hence, the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary, as the Chinese call it, is now a disputed land. This sounds familiar because China used the same reasons to provoke India in Ladakh. It said that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) had never been defined and has used this logic to increase its military presence in disputed areas. Now it clearly wishes to do the same in Bhutan. Thimphu has issued a demarche to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. Bhutan has categorically stated that the sanctuary is an "integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan".

After provoking India, China now lays claim on Bhutan's territory

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

After provoking India, China now lays claim on Bhutan's territory