BEIJING: Chinese vice foreign minister Kong Xuanyou is believed to have discussed the Doklam issue with Bhutanese officials during a visit to Thimpu on Tuesday where, ignoring the importance of rank in diplomacy, he was accorded the highest respect in terms of audiences with the king and the former king of
Bhutan.
Indian and Chinese troops had engaged in a standoff in Dokalam that began on June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped construction of a road by China’s People’s Liberation Army in the disputed area. The face-off ended on August 28.
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that boundary issues with India were discussed. “The two sides exchanged views on China-Bhutan ties, and also the boundary issue, and reached many agreements,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday.
The Chinese statement is significant because India and Bhutan had worked together during the military stand-off against Chinese troops at Doklam last year. This had led to the cancellation of China-Bhutan border talks though the talks may take place sometime this year.
It is understood that the dispute over Doklam, one of several areas where the border is disputed, figured in the talks.
Bhutan and China do not have a formal diplomatic relationship and neither has an embassy in the other’s country. This is likely to change as China is keen to establish a mission in
Thimphu.
Discussing the recent meeting between Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Chinese President
Xi Jinping in
Rwanda, Geng said both India and China can work together in Africa. This is in the spirit of the
Wuhan consensus reached by the leaders, he said.
