Is Bhutan moving away from Delhi... towards Beijing?

[beijingwalker]

Is Bhutan moving away from Delhi... towards Beijing?
Published: Saturday, Jul 14, 2012, 9:30 IST
By Iftikhar Gilani | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA

With the increasing democratisation, communists consolidating their position, coupled with “sub-standard” works of Indian contractors, is costing India its long-term and the closest ally in South Asia. The tiny Himalayan nation Bhutan is increasing moving away from it.

A joint study conducted by the ministry of external affairs and Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, released here on Friday by foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai discusses a potential shift in Bhutan’s foreign policy, having far reaching impact on India’s strategic and political interests.

The authors of the study, who visited and interacted host of people in Bhutan sensed that anti-India sentiments were taking roots in the country. The country’s intellectual and political class were discussing to open similar vistas for China to maintain equilibrium with India.

Bhutanese media has been playing up the technical and quality problems associated with Indian projects and the developmental assistance.

Recently the Tala hydel project faced problems with four runners worth Nu280 million showing cracks. Also, a 500 MW high voltage cable worth Nu 40 million failed after being installed. Further, Indian projects have been reporting increasing sedimentation and design flaws.

The internal pressures from the National Assembly of Bhutan are also pacing up to resolve the border dispute with China. “There are already concerns on the Indian side over increasing Chinese foray into Bhutanese territory and efforts to engage Bhutan at various for a in the past years. China has so far built 6 roads closer to Bhutan’s border towns in the north and northwest,” says the joint MEA-IDSA study.

Further Chinese companies have been given a contract to construct the world’s tallest Buddha statue in Thimpu. And as counter to India, Beijing is exporting farming and telecommunication equipment and has also offered to invest in projects related to health and education services.
Though Bhutan has so far refrained from engaging Pakistan, the study says, this might change in near future.

Politically more worrisome for India is the Communist Party consolidating its base in southern part of country and the apprehension of vote bank politics forcing the country to settle border dispute with China, as it impedes the development of Northwest Bhutan. The study points out public resentment regarding the location of Indian Army Military Training Team in a fort in Haa district. Since forts serve as administrative headquarters and monastic bodies across Bhutan, locals have been unhappy at this structure been handed over to the Indian Army.

 

[OrionHunter]

Iftikhar Gilani? So, beijing walker thinks that Bhutan will soon be walking toward Beijing?

Seriously, the author needs to get his head examined pronto. This baloney is not even funny. Next.

 

[TopCat]

Bhutan should provide staging post for PLA near Shiliguri Corridor.

 

[Martian2]

Iftikhar Gilani? So, beijing walker thinks that Bhutan will soon be walking toward Beijing?

Seriously, the author needs to get his head examined pronto. This baloney is not even funny. Next.

Massive economic and military power attracts allies. It is a fact of life.

China can afford to provide substantial economic and military assistance (e.g. build Friendship Bridges and provide military hardware at Friendship Prices).

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

So, beijing walker thinks that Bhutan will soon be walking toward Beijing?

Have you ever tried walking to Beijing? It is really far.

Unless you live in Beijing, in which case it is fairly close.

 

[ahfatzia]

Since China is investing $4.8 billion in Lhasa tourist industry, a highway connects to Bhutan makes sense. Finally Bhutanese are free to visit their ancestral homeland and sell their products to China as well. Gross Happiness is meaningless this realistic world.

 

[OrionHunter]

Massive economic and military power attracts allies. It is a fact of life.

China can afford to provide substantial economic and military assistance (e.g. build Friendship Bridges and provide military hardware at Friendship Prices).

Sorry, but I don't see this happening. Military assistance means squat unless the Chinese are gonna man their weapon systems too! Where economic assistance is concerned, China even failed to bail out its best friend - Pakistan - on a number of occasions forcing it to run to the IMF instead. China will not give a penny but may provide token help in the form of some infrastructure development to Bhutan.

 

[Martian2]

Sorry, but I don't see this happening. Military assistance means squat unless the Chinese are gonna man their weapon systems too! Where economic assistance is concerned, China even failed to bail out its best friend - Pakistan - on a number of occasions forcing it to run to the IMF instead. China will not give a penny but may provide token help in the form of some infrastructure development to Bhutan.

Come on. Haven't you heard Musharraf sing praises of the Sino-Pakistani alliance? He spoke about higher than the mountains and deeper than the seas.

You should try reading the newspaper interviews with African leaders regarding China's building of railways, bridges, dams, airports, highways, etc. in their countries. They are also singing China's praises.

China has the technology, low interest loans (which are sometimes outright forgiven), no-tariffs for some African countries, scholarship programs, technology transfers, etc. to attract lots of allies. China is simply walking down the same path as the United States when it grew in economic and military power.

 

[Paan Singh]

King is owned by india and indian ..i mean his wife is indian
so chinese keep trying

 

[Martian2]

King is owned by india and indian ..i mean his wife is indian
so chinese keep trying

She doesn't look Indian one bit. She looks Mongoloid to me.

Parts of my face (e.g. lips, cheeks, and ears) are pink like hers. I've never seen a pink ethnic Indian.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

King is owned by india and indian ..i mean his wife is indian
so chinese keep trying

LOL, you shot yourself in the foot.

They both look East Asian, not South Asian.

 

[Jade]

Massive economic and military power attracts allies. It is a fact of life.

China can afford to provide substantial economic and military assistance (e.g. build Friendship Bridges and provide military hardware at Friendship Prices).

Sorry to burst your bubble, but China cannot even do a squat in the vicinity of India and that is fact.

 

[Paan Singh]

She doesn't look Indian one bit. She looks Mongoloid to me.

Parts of my face is pink like hers. I've never seen a pink ethnic Indian.

you are an pathetic troll
india have 1/3rd of north east and many of them are mongoloid population ..we are indian first..

see indian army and see the mongol featured soldiers..

 

[Jade]

LOL, you shot yourself in the foot.

They both look East Asian, not South Asian.

We have almost 10 states that has people who look like East Asians.

 

[ThinkLogic]

Chinese IQ stinks here...