China constructing villages, outposts inside Bhutanese territory

In 2015, China had anunced that a new vill, called Gyalaphug in Tibetan or Jieluobu in Chinese, had been established in south of Tibet Automous Region (TAR). Gyalaphug is, however, different; it is in Bhutan and Chinese officials have crossed and violated an international border. 

Since anuncement in 2015, China has been constructing a previously unticed network of roads, buildings and military infrastructure within territory internationally and historically understood to be Bhutanese itself. Post deliberated escalation in China's long-established endeavour to outflank India and its neighbours along Himalayas, recent construction is part of a significant mission by Chinese President Xi Jinping to fortify Tibetan borderlands. 

China's territorial assertiveness despite Treaty with Bhutan

This concludes China's aim to force Bhutanese government to cede territory that China wants elsewhere in Bhutan to give Beijing a military advant in ir tiff with New Delhi. This is definitely a strategy that is more provocative than anything China has done around its borders in recent past.

In 1998, China had signed a formal agreement with Bhutan, recognising latter's sovereignty and its territorial integrity and agreed that " unilateral action will be taken to change status quo on border."

refore construction within periphery of Bhutan is a grave violation of terms of China's founding treaty with Bhutan and oblivious to Bhutanese history of decades of protests regarding smaller infractions elsewhere on borders. At present, all of Menchuma Valley and most of Beyul Khenpajong areas in Bhutan are operated by China. Since 1980s, China has been explicit about its claim over Beyul. 

According to Director of Modern Tibetan Studies and professor at Columbia University in New York, Robert Barnett, China's multilevel construction drive within Bhutan has gone almost unticed by outside world. Bhutan may t have realised full extent of China's activity on its rrn borders or have remained silent. In 2017, China's attempt to build a cross road across Doklam plateau in southwestern Bhutan, next to a trijunction with India, had triggered a 73 day faceoff between hundreds of Indian and Chinese troops. This had to be abandoned later. 

Barnett writes for Foreign Policy, "By mirroring in Himalayas provocative tactics it has used in South China Sea, Beijing is risking its relations with its neighbors, whose needs and interests it has always claimed to respect, and jeopardizing its reputation worldwide." He also wrote- if Bhutan declines to risk ties with India, Beijing shift will have seriously damd a previously amicable relationship for little or gain.

This attempt is quite similar to China's provocative and nettlesome tactics in South China Sea which has risked country's relation with neighbours of subcontinent and successfully jeopardizing its reputation worldwide.

South China Sea feud has soured relations between China & its neighbouring countries

Disputes over  South China Sea, have compelled several foreign entities to outpour ir opinions and inculpate China. In a recent development, international public opinion raised concern over domineering Chinese coast guard forces in Sea to serve country's unilateral sovereignty claim in East Sea alias South China Sea. 

China has been more assertive in sovereignty disputes of  Spratly Islands in South China Sea.  said islands are subject to a territorial dispute and are in whole or partly claimed by numerous countries, namely, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. China claims virtually all of South China Sea while Philippines claim Spratly Islands as being within its exclusive ecomic zone alias West Philippines.

A United Nations tribunal dismissed China's claim to virtually claiming all sovereignty of South China Sea. Earlier, Beijing had rejected this ruling.  Chinese statement insisted that China's sovereignty, rights and vested interests in South China Sea were formed in 'long course of history and consistent with international law' and rejected 2016 tribunal ruling as "null and void".

power projection comes in backdrop of China's ascending maritime activities in South China Sea. Experts have ted this increase in China's presence in Sea as a response to Beijing's concerns over sizeable increase in US military presence in region. This has escalated Si-US feud. 

Last month,  European Union inculpated China to have jeopardised peace in South China Sea. EU urged all its parties to abide by ruling of a 2016 tribunal in order to eliminate most of China's claim to sovereignty in sea. 

(With ncy inputs)