China says would like to see 'normal relations' between India and Bhutan
China has often warily viewed the close security relations between India and Bhutan, with Chinese analysts routinely referring to Bhutan as a "protectorate" of India.
In Short
- China says it would like to see India, Bhutan develop normal relations
- Bhutan's king and queen are on a four-day visit to India
- Bhutan, India reaffirm their close ties in the wake of Doklam standoff
China today said that it would like to see India and Bhutan "developing normal relations", with Bhutan's King on a key visit to New Delhi.
Both India and Bhutan today reaffirmed their close ties, with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and President Ram Nath Kovind in their talks reaffirming the relationship in the wake of the 72 day standoff at Doklam, near the India-China-Bhutan trijunction.
Significantly, the President had specifically conveyed "deep appreciation for the King of Bhutan's personal involvement and guidance and the support provided by Bhutan in addressing the recent situation in the Doklam area", a statement said.
He also said that "the manner in which both India and Bhutan stood together to address the situation in the Doklam area is a clear testimony to our friendship".
CHINA's CAUTIOUS APPROACH
China has often warily viewed the close security relations between India and Bhutan, with Chinese analysts routinely referring to Bhutan as a "protectorate" of India and blaming Delhi for the unsettled borders between the two countries.
Some Indian analysts have seen China's moves into Doklam, where in June it extended a road deep into what India and Bhutan see as Bhutanese land, as seeking to test India's ties with Bhutan and perhaps drive a wedge in the relationship.
China reacted cautiously to the King's visit, saying it saw both countries as close neighbours.
"Both India and Bhutan are China's important and close neighbours," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. "We are committed to developing good neighbourly and friendly relations with these two countries and we would like to see India and Bhutan developing normal relations."
DOKLAM AND AFTER
Hua didn't elaborate on what "normal relations" meant. Amid the standoff in August, the Foreign Ministry in a statement pointed out that China dealt with Bhutan as "an independent and sovereign" state, in a thinly veiled dig at India.
The dispute over Doklam, Beijing then said, "has nothing to do with India" and that "as a third party, India has no right to interfere in or impede the boundary talks between China and Bhutan, still less the right to make territorial claims on Bhutan's behalf". "China", it added in a dig at India, "has all along respected Bhutan's sovereignty and independence".
China has more recently appeared keen to turn the page on the standoff, particularly after the September meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Xiamen.
Hua today said, "On the incident of Indian troops trespassing the border, we have stated our position many times before. We believe that China and India properly settled this issue through diplomatic means consistent with our common interest. We hope India can follow historical conventions and work with China to ensure peace and tranquility of the border area."
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