Bhutan

Bhutan, sandwiched between India and China, is the second least populous nation after the Maldives in South Asia. It is one of the few countries that has never been colonised in its history (notwithstanding occasional nominal tribute status).

In 2017, the Indian armed forces and the people's liberation army of China had a standoff over a road construction in Doklam for weeks from 18 June to 28 August. India does not have any territorial claim but it supports Bhutan in the land dispute between Bhutan and China.

Bhutan and China became neighbors only after 1951 when China annexed Tibet. Before that, the two countries did not have shared borders.

China's assertiveness had prompted Bhutan to forge a closer tie with India and the two countries eventually signed a treaty of friendship in 1949 under which Bhutan was to be guided by the advice of India in regard to its foreign relations. The status quo serves India's interest more than that of Bhutan.

In 2013, India cut off a cooking gas subsidy as punishment for the then government's proximity to China.

Today, the youngsters of Bhutan want to have good relations with both China and India. But will India be happy with this new trend?

References

Blowback from India’s strategic blunder in Bhutan?