Pangda Village and Doklam

Why in news?

• Chinese media claimed that a new border village built by China near Bhutan was on Chinese territory but released images of the village show its location on territory disputed by the two countries.
• The Village is called Pangda and holds around 27 houses.
• An image released by the newspaper placed the village in disputed territory, a couple of kilometres inside what Bhutan sees as its territory.

About Doklam:

• Doklam, or Donglang in Chinese, is an area spread over less than a 100 sq km comprising a plateau and a valley at the trijunction between India, Bhutan and China.
• It is surrounded by the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, Bhutan’s Ha Valley and Sikkim.
• The region has been an area of dispute between China and Bhutan and has not been resolved.
• It flared up in 2017 when the Chinese were trying to construct a road in the area, and Indian troops, in aid of their Bhutanese counterparts, objected to it, resulting in the stand-off.
• Doklam is strategically located close to the Siliguri Corridor, which connects mainland India with its north-eastern region. The corridor, also called Chicken’s Neck, is a vulnerable point for India.

Why does it matter?

• While India-Tibet trade flourished along the Siliguri corridor and Chumbi Valley, Doklam had very little significance.
• Even during British rule, Doklam did not command much attention. In recent years however, China has been beefing up its military presence in the Chumbi Valley, where the Chinese are at a great disadvantage militarily.
• Both Indian and Bhutanese troops are on a higher ground around the Valley.
• Control over Doklam would give Chinese a commanding view of and an easy access to both the Chumbi Valley and the Siliguri Corridor.
• The desolate Doklam region grabbed global attention after the 2017 stand-off when Indian troops entered Doklam, at the request of Bhutan, and stopped the construction of a road Chinese were constructing inside Bhutanese Territory.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following Trijunctions:
1.Lipu Lekh Pass: Bangladesh- Myanmar
2.Jongsong Peak: Nepal-China
3.Diphu Pass: Myanmar - China
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)1 and 3 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1,2,3 only

Answer to prelims question