China doubled down on claims on eastern Bhutan boundary

China claims to the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary in Eastern Bhutan and has doubled down, including Bhutan’s “Eastern sectors” to the boundary dispute between the two countries for the first time.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited. Bhutan has always maintained a discreet silence on its boundary negotiations with China, and it does not have any formal diplomatic relations with Beijing.

So far, the talks have been about three specific areas, including Jakarlung and Pasamlung in the north, and the Chumbi Valley, where Doklam is situated, in west Bhutan.

There has been no mention of eastern Bhutan, or Trashigang Dzongkhag (district), where Sakteng is based in 24 previous rounds of boundary negotiations held between the two countries, between 1984 and 2016.

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located mostly in Trashigang District and just crossing the border into Samdrup Jongkhar District, Bhutan.

It is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan’s Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.

It protects several endemic species including the eastern blue pine and the black-rumped magpie.

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary was created in part to protect the migoi, a yeti-like cryptid whose existence has not been scientifically confirmed, but in which the local population strongly believes.