The image shows two lands of China connected, 30 km from the Doklam Plateau. High resolution: here
High-resolution satellite images provided by NDTV confirm that China may be building at least two large interconnected villages within Bhutan’s territory.
These are located less than 30 kilometers from the Doklam plateau, where India and China had a standoff in 2017 when Indian soldiers blocked Chinese road construction.
Since then, China has bypassed Indian positions to resume road construction from a different axis, just 9 km from the site opposite Doklam. It has also built at least one full-fledged village, first identified by NDTV, with satellite images in November 2020.
A January 1 image of one of the Chinese enclave shows more than 34 buildings in one of the illegally built plots in Bhutanese territory. High resolution images here.
According to Damien Symon, a leading GEOINT researcher at Intel Lab who first identified the new locations last November, this is ”irrefutable proof of ongoing construction and development activity. took place in an area disputed between China and Bhutan. ” structure “many ‘like a chalet” [which] visible, with more under construction. ”
The Chinese construction sites shown in this report are located about 30 kilometers from the Doklam Plateau, where Indian and Chinese troops faced off in 2017. High resolution images here.
Obviously more construction is under construction. “In addition, it is observed that heavy machinery and ground-moving equipment are preparing similar lands for future use.” “This is connected to the developed road network connecting the settlements. It is still unclear, at this stage, where these settlements are intended to be stationed by military forces or essentially. , is a territory that occupies the land of a country that is essentially defenseless against the power of the Chinese armed forces.
Bhutan and China have been negotiating the border for more than four decades, and while the outcome of these negotiations has never been revealed, there has never been any international statement about Thimpu handing over an inch. its territory to China.
Historically, Bhutan has always relied on India, not only as a cybersecurity provider but also as a vocal ally in its foreign policy. While Bhutan’s foreign policy decisions are now considered entirely independent, India and Bhutan remain extremely close allies, with Thimpu well aware of New Delhi’s concerns about expansionism domination of China.
Author and geographical strategist Brahma Chellaney said, “China’s increased construction of military villages on the border, including within Bhutan, has twofold implications for India’s security. First, China’s construction is opening up a potential military pivot against India’s so-called chickens – striking from a different direction than the Indian forces blocked during the Doklam standoff in 2015. 2017. Second, India is Bhutan’s de facto security guarantor, and China’s construction in violation of Bhutan’s territorial sovereignty may be aimed at undermining Bhutan-India relations and forcing Thimphu to in line with China’s requirements.”
The land illegally built by China inside Bhutan is likely to be used for both military and civilian purposes. High resolution images here.
China’s efforts to infiltrate countries with which it has border disputes have been described by the late Indian Chief of the General Staff of Defense Bipin Rawat as ”slices of Italian sausage” and have profound impact on the integrity of India’s land borders.
India and China have been head-to-head in East Ladakh for two years while China intensifies illegal construction activities in Arunachal Pradesh by building encirclements in areas not actually patrolled by the Indian Army.
In response to a question from NDTV yesterday about China’s actual fortification of areas in Arunachal that it holds, Army Commander-in-Chief NN Naravane tells the difference Between India and China exists because there are different perceptions of the actual Line of Control that has not yet distinguished. However, General Naravane has made it clear that China will not be allowed to make further inroads into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh. ”As far as we are concerned, we have prepared ourselves very thoroughly along our border and there is no doubt that any status quo like today will be altered by force. ”
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