The Doklam Pass and Doklam Plateau

Overview[]

The Doklam Pass is a small strip of mountain land that separates the Indian state of Sikkim from its neighbor Bhutan that has been disputed between the PRC and Bhutan. It connects to the rugged Doklam Plateau. The Doklam River and the Dongkya Range cross through them.

Climate[]

The place has five seasons: winter, summer, spring, autumn, and monsoon season. It's climate is of a high mountain to tundra type.

History[]

The historical status of the Doklam plateau is uncertain and thus contested over by the rival claimants.

According to Sikkimese tradition, when the Kingdom of Sikkim was founded by local Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan tribes in 1642, it included all the areas that surrounded the Doklam Plateau:

The Doklam plateau
The Doklam Pass
The Chumbi Valley
The Haa Valley
The Darjeeling area
The Kalimpong area

The 5th-generation descendant of the legendary eastern Tibetan prince Khye Bumsa, Phuntsog Namgyal, became the founder of Sikkim's monarchy in 1642.

The Drukpa Lineage had de facto control of Bhutan by the 16th century.

Bhutan and Nepal regularly attacked Sikkim, which later became part of British India. Bhutan ended it's attacks due to then Anglo-Bhutanese treaty in 1774 and Tibet later forced Nepal to back off in another treaty.

The hilly area around Darjeeling was controlled by the Kingdom of Sikkim Until the early 19th century, when Nepal conquered it and then was forced to give it to the British after the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli. It became a major tea growing area under the British.

The settlement prior to the British takeover consisted of a few villages of the Lepcha, and Kirati people. Things would change under British rule and the now varied culture of Darjeeling town reflects its diverse demographic milieu of it's surrounding district, comprising Lepcha, Khampa, Gorkha, Kirati, Newar, Sherpa, Bhutia, Bengali peoples and traditions.

The area around Mt. Bhomtso, Geari, Kampa Dzong and Chomto Dong Lake in Tibet were part of Sikkim during 1876.

The People's Republic of China has stated the both Sikkim and Bhutan were either part of Tibet or China for a period of 1,800 years, since the 2nd century B.C. China also claims to the Doklam area based on the Anglo-Chinese Convention of 1890.

1950s[]

2 Indian observation bunkers were built at Bhutan's behest in the Doklam Pass after China annexed Tibet. One of these bunkers was blown up by the Chinese. Both nations started formally claiming the area since August of 1956.

Bhutan was a British protectorate and is now an Indian protectorate. Tibet was forcibly annexed and absorbed in to China in 1951 after it refused to co-operate with China in 1950.

1965-1984[]

China's bulling of Bhutan in 1965 and subsequent token insertion of PRC troops in to the Doklam only made India and Bhutan closer allies. India sent 3,500 troops to Bhutan to train up the then 14 year old 2,5000 strong, but now 8,000 strong (as of 2015) Bhutanese army.

Meaningful border negotiations between Bhutan and China first began in 1972 but then collapsed until 1984, after which 24 border talks were held.

Modern times[]

China sent a token number of troops to the area as a show of force in 2017. The 73 days June to August 2017 a military standoff occurred between China and India over Bhutan's ownership of the land.

Chinese troops tried to build road in the region since thire control over of Doklam plateau would have the Chinese border troops a direct view in to the Indian territory adjacent to it.

The Doklam Pass and Doklam Plateau

Contents

Overview[]

Climate[]

History[]

1950s[]

1965-1984[]

Modern times[]

Also see[]

Sources[]

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