China has constructed at least 22 villages and settlements over the past eight years within territory traditionally considered part of Bhutan. Among these, eight villages have emerged since 2020 near the strategic Doklam plateau, according to satellite imagery.
These eight settlements in Bhutan’s western sector are strategically positioned in valleys or on ridges overlooking areas claimed by China, often near Chinese military outposts or bases. The largest settlement, Jiwu, built on Bhutanese pastureland known as Tshethangkha, lies within this region.
The location of these villages has raised concerns among experts in New Delhi, particularly due to their potential impact on the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow land stretch connecting India’s mainland to its northeastern states. The strengthening of China’s presence in this strategic area could increase the corridor’s vulnerability.
Doklam, the site of a 73-day standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in 2017, has seen significant Chinese construction activity in recent years, despite the withdrawal of frontline forces after the standoff. Satellite images have revealed new infrastructure development around the plateau.
Neither Bhutan nor India’s external affairs ministry has commented on the matter. Bhutanese authorities have previously denied Chinese settlements within their territory. However, former Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering stirred controversy in 2023 by stating that these facilities “are not in Bhutan.”
According to a report by Robert Barnett, a research associate at SOAS, since 2016, China has completed 22 settlements in Bhutanese territory, consisting of approximately 2,284 residential units and relocating nearly 7,000 people to these previously unpopulated areas. The report estimates that China has annexed around 825 sq km of Bhutanese land, amounting to over 2% of the country’s territory. Roads now connect these villages to Chinese towns, and since 2023, seven settlements have been constructed, with three set to be upgraded to towns.
Barnett’s report highlights that China’s primary objective in Bhutan’s western sector is to secure the Doklam plateau and adjoining areas. The eight villages in this region form a 36-km line from north to south, averaging 5.3 km apart. Historically, this area was ceded to Bhutan by Tibet’s ruler in 1913.
Ashok Kantha, India’s former envoy to Beijing, stated that the construction of these villages violates a 1998 agreement between Bhutan and China on maintaining peace and the status quo in border areas. Kantha noted that these settlements are part of a broader Chinese strategy to incrementally change facts on the ground, similar to their actions in the South China Sea. The power imbalance prevents Bhutan from effectively opposing these developments.
Barnett further noted that China’s approach disregards past commitments and other nations’ positions, raising concerns for India due to the proximity to the Siliguri Corridor. He emphasized that Bhutan, while treaty-bound to respect India’s security interests, has indicated that any decision on Doklam would require trilateral discussions involving India and China.
Barnett cautioned that China’s increasing influence in Bhutan, coupled with its ability to provide tangible benefits, could shift Bhutan away from India’s sphere of influence. He also predicted that Bhutan might soon allow China to establish an embassy in Thimphu, potentially boosting trade relations.
Relations between India and China have been at a low point since a 2020 military standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Although recent developments, including disengagement agreements at friction points, have signaled progress, the broader border dispute and geopolitical tensions remain unresolved.
