China keen to develop diplomatic ties with Bhutan

China has been keen on establishing diplomatic relations with Bhutan and even offered to drop its territorial claim on the himalayan kingdom’s northern areas, if allowed to open its embassy in Thimphu.

Though Bhutan does not have diplomatic relations with China or any of the four other members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Beijing has, of late, added fresh momentum in its efforts to open up an embassy in Thimphu — a move New Delhi has been closely monitoring.

Beijing’s renewed move to warm up to Thimphu started months before China’s People’s Liberation Army came to Doklam Plateau along the disputed India-Bhutan border and started building a road, brushing off protests by the Royal Bhutanese Army.

Luo Zhaohui, Chinese Ambassador to India, visited Thimphu in January and met King Jigme Singhye Wangchuk of Bhutan and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay.

He was quoted by Kuensel (the national newspaper of the kingdom) as saying that he had conveyed to them Beijing’s keenness to “expand” China-Bhutan relations.

He also told Kuensel that China was keen to resolve the boundary dispute with Bhutan “as soon as possible”.