China building villages on Bhutan's land

[SunsetBengal]

China simply building on their weaker neighbor's land, knowing full well that they are essentially powerless to do much of anything about it. Anyone else see this as a potentially dangerous situation?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/satellite-images-show-china-building-houses-on-neighbor-s-territory/ar-AA1lrFGU?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b50a134f62984490ade5ecba141df64d&ei=185

Quote:Satellite photographs this month provided some of the clearest views of China's massive construction project within the borders of neighboring Bhutan, the tiny Himalayan kingdom with which Beijing is trying to negotiate a major land deal.

Pictures from imagery provider Maxar Technologies, taken on December 7, showed large-scale construction activity in the remote Jakarlung Valley, one of two areas in northern Bhutan where Beijing's quiet land grab is taking place.

John Pollock of the Chatham House think tank in London said the multiple ongoing projects suggested "Thimphu may be about to concede the land to Beijing in a border deal."

China was also carrying out further construction in the Menchuma Valley, east of Jakarlung. Pollock said it, too, could be included in Bhutan's territorial concession.

Bhutan's decision-makers appear to be focused on reaching a deal in the north that is separate from India and its concerns. Beijing's yearslong construction plan has changed the reality on the ground, forcing Thimphu to the negotiating table.

Damien Symon, a specialist in open-source analysis, told Newsweek that China was building an "ecosystem" of villages in northern Bhutan. The ones in upper Jakarlung were the first of their kind.

"The sheer scale of this developmental activity emphasizes that these villages are not merely isolated outposts but rather integral components forming a comprehensive ecosystem that supports China's territorial ambitions, further contributing to the Sinicization of the Bhutanese landscape," Symon said.

Claude Arpi, a Tibet specialist, expressed concern about Bhutan's capacity to deter China's ingress.

"In Bhutan's case, the Royal Bhutan Army does not have the capacity to react and push the [People's Liberation Army] or Border Defense Force back or even stop the construction of the new villages," Arpi told NDTV on Monday.

The situation puts Bhutan in a vulnerable position in its ongoing border tensions with the much larger China.

India has been closely monitoring the developments, Newsweek previously reported, given the strategic implications for India's own borders with China. Any land swap deal between Beijing and Thimphu could directly impact New Delhi, which was keeping tabs on Bhutan's talks with China.

New Delhi has traditionally acted as a conduit for Thimphu's foreign affairs, including with the United States, given Bhutan's long-standing policy of not maintaining formal ties with members of the U.N. Security Council. The Chinese government, however, is pushing Bhutan to establish direct diplomatic relations.

Incumbent Prime Minister Lotay Tshering of Bhutan has actively pushed for talks with China during his time in office. Tshering's interest in boundary negotiations suggests that the kingdom has few options but to strike a deal with Beijing to stop the incursion.

The ongoing negotiations, Symon said, could significantly impact the status of Bhutan's valleys in the north. Thimphu's potential concessions to Beijing in Jakarlung and Menchuma could greatly undermine Bhutan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

Robert Barnett, a professor of Tibetan history at SOAS, University of London, told NDTV that the region has religious and cultural significance to Bhutan.

"Jakarlung adjoins the Beyul Khenpajong, which is an important cultural and religious area for the Bhutanese. So this case represents China making a very recent, doubtful claim about an area that is of great cultural significance to a far less powerful neighbor, knowing that neighbor has few if any options as to its response," Barnett said.

[Dill]

(12-13-2023, 02:04 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: China simply building on their weaker neighbor's land, knowing full well that they are essentially powerless to do much of anything about it.  Anyone else see this as a potentially dangerous situation?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/satellite-images-show-china-building-houses-on-neighbor-s-territory/ar-AA1lrFGU?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b50a134f62984490ade5ecba141df64d&ei=185

I don't know if Bhutan is "powerless" given its status as "protected land" under India.

But yes, there is danger of conflict between Indian and China here, if Thingphu is swapping land for security, or being pressured to.

Herez a map of the disputed regions.
https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2023-12/china-takes-more-land-bhutan-expected-border-deal

[Luvnit2]

(12-13-2023, 02:04 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: China simply building on their weaker neighbor's land, knowing full well that they are essentially powerless to do much of anything about it.  Anyone else see this as a potentially dangerous situation?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/satellite-images-show-china-building-houses-on-neighbor-s-territory/ar-AA1lrFGU?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b50a134f62984490ade5ecba141df64d&ei=185

Yes, it is a problem. The issue the US faces is we can't be involved in every border war or land grab. I think Russia, Iran and China have a plan and it involves stripping the US of military and monetary resources thus weakening us.

[Dill]

(12-13-2023, 05:43 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Yes, it is a problem. The issue the US faces is we can't be involved in every border war or land grab. I think Russia, Iran and China have a plan and it involves stripping the US of military and monetary resources thus weakening us.

If Trump is elected, then Russian and China could expect the US to voluntarily reduce its international footprint,

leaving them to fill the the vacuum wherever. Starting with Ukraine.

[Mike M (the other one)]

(12-13-2023, 09:55 PM)Dill Wrote: If Trump is elected, then Russian and China could expect the US to voluntarily reduce its international footprint,

leaving them to fill the the vacuum wherever. Starting with Ukraine.

Sorry can't take you seriously til you've posted a min of 1k words.

[GMDino]

(12-14-2023, 11:45 AM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: Sorry can't take you seriously til you've posted a min of 1k words.

So you don't want in-depth, sourced answers from Dill...and you don't want short to the point answers Dill.

I'm starting to think you just don't want to read what Dill has to say if it disagrees with you.

That sounds familiar.

But he's right. He will continue to buddy-buddy with Putin and Putin and China (which owns a lot of P01135809 business) will be allowed to do whatever they want.

[SunsetBengal]

(12-14-2023, 11:49 AM)GMDino Wrote: So you don't want in-depth, sourced answers from Dill...and you don't want short to the point answers Dill.

I'm starting to think you just don't want to read what Dill has to say if it disagrees with you.

That sounds familiar.

But he's right.  He will continue to buddy-buddy with Putin and Putin and China (which owns a lot of Trump business) will be allowed to do whatever they want.

If DJT somehow manages to get elected POTUS again, you're going to have to get someone videoing you running around the house screaming Jumanji! 

[GMDino]

(12-14-2023, 01:31 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: If DJT somehow manages to get elected POTUS again, you're going to have to get someone videoing you running around the house screaming Jumanji! 

Except he can't do anything to hurt me.  I'm a middle aged, white, Christian male.

I just have concerns that the guy who was a complete ****up the first time and has promised to get revenge on everyone *might* not be the best choice this time.

[Mike M (the other one)]

(12-14-2023, 11:49 AM)GMDino Wrote: So you don't want in-depth, sourced answers from Dill...and you don't want short to the point answers Dill.

I'm starting to think you just don't want to read what Dill has to say if it disagrees with you.

That sounds familiar.

But he's right.  He will continue to buddy-buddy with Putin and Putin and China (which owns a lot of P01135809 business) will be allowed to do whatever they want.

Trump uses many words and says a whole lot of nothing too.

[GMDino]

(12-14-2023, 02:16 PM)Mike M (the other one) Wrote: Trump uses many words and says a whole lot of nothing too.

And many people use lots of words and say a lot of something.  

See?

Some people have backgrounds where they want to be clear and provide as much supporting evidence as they can.

Some want few words because they don't want to have the discussion and/or do the work to back their own opinions.