Doklam Trijunction

The Doklam Trijunction refers to the geographically and strategically significant area located at the convergence of the borders of India, China, and Bhutan. It gained international attention during the Doklam standoff of 2017, when Indian and Chinese troops faced off over China’s attempt to extend a road into Bhutanese territory claimed by both Bhutan and China. The trijunction remains one of the most sensitive and contested regions in the Eastern Himalayas, symbolising broader geopolitical tensions in South Asia.

Geographical Location and Significance

Doklam, also known as Donglang in Chinese terminology, is a plateau situated to the north of the Indian state of Sikkim, at an altitude of around 4,000 metres above sea level. It lies close to the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, forming a wedge-shaped area bounded by the Sikkim ridge (India) to the west, Haa Valley (Bhutan) to the south, and Yadong County (Tibet, China) to the north.
The trijunction point is near Batang La, which India and Bhutan regard as the legitimate junction, while China claims it lies further south at Gipmochi (Gyemo Chen). This difference in interpretation of the trijunction’s location underpins the territorial dispute.
Strategically, Doklam is critical for India because it overlooks the Siliguri Corridor—also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”—a narrow strip of land connecting mainland India with its northeastern states. Any military advantage gained by China in this area could threaten India’s access to the northeast, making the region a focal point of India’s national security calculus.

Historical Background

The origins of the Doklam dispute trace back to the Anglo-Chinese Convention of 1890, signed between Great Britain and the Qing dynasty of China. Article I of the convention defined the boundary between Sikkim and Tibet, stating that it would follow the watershed between the Teesta and Mochu rivers, starting from Mount Gipmochi.
However, India and Bhutan argue that the 1890 convention does not apply to Bhutan, which was not a party to the agreement. They also interpret the watershed principle differently, identifying Batang La as the correct trijunction point rather than Gipmochi. Consequently, India and Bhutan consider China’s claim over the Doklam plateau and its attempts at road construction as violations of existing understandings and Bhutan’s territorial sovereignty.

The 2017 Doklam Standoff

The Doklam crisis of June–August 2017 was one of the most serious military confrontations between India and China in decades. The standoff began when Chinese construction teams attempted to extend a road southward from Yadong towards the Doklam plateau. Bhutan protested the intrusion, asserting that the area fell within its territorial jurisdiction as per bilateral agreements with China.
At Bhutan’s request and under the India–Bhutan Friendship Treaty (2007), Indian troops from the Indian Army’s Sikkim sector crossed into Doklam on 18 June 2017 to halt the construction. The face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers lasted 73 days, involving troop reinforcements, aggressive patrolling, and diplomatic exchanges.
The confrontation ended on 28 August 2017, after both sides agreed to disengage and withdraw forces to their pre-June positions. Although the immediate crisis was defused without conflict, it underscored the volatility of border issues and the strategic mistrust between India and China.

Strategic Importance

Doklam’s importance extends beyond territorial sovereignty. Its strategic relevance can be understood through several dimensions:

• Proximity to the Siliguri Corridor: Control over Doklam provides a commanding view of this narrow corridor, which is only about 20–25 kilometres wide. Any hostile presence here could potentially cut off India’s northeast during a conflict.
• Defence of Bhutan: India has a long-standing security arrangement with Bhutan, assisting in safeguarding its territorial integrity. Chinese intrusion in Doklam would directly undermine Bhutanese security.
• Regional Power Dynamics: The standoff reflects broader strategic competition between India and China for influence in the Himalayan region and South Asia.
• Infrastructure and Surveillance: The construction of roads and military infrastructure in the area enables rapid troop movement and surveillance advantages, heightening security concerns.

India–Bhutan and China–Bhutan Relations

The Doklam issue also highlights Bhutan’s delicate diplomatic balancing act. Bhutan does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with China, and the two countries have engaged in 24 rounds of border talks since 1984 to settle disputes in western (Doklam), central, and northern Bhutan.
India, as Bhutan’s closest ally and security partner, plays an indirect yet crucial role in these negotiations. The India–Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007 allows Bhutan to conduct its foreign policy independently but reinforces mutual security cooperation.
China, meanwhile, seeks to establish formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan and settle the border dispute to advance its strategic objectives. In recent years, China has reportedly proposed a “package deal” offering concessions in northern Bhutan in exchange for control over western sectors such as Doklam—a proposal Bhutan has not accepted due to its implications for Indian security.

Post-2017 Developments

Since the disengagement in 2017, the Doklam region has remained an area of concern. Satellite imagery and intelligence reports suggest that China has continued to build infrastructure, including roads and villages, north and east of the standoff site—areas still claimed by Bhutan.
India maintains enhanced surveillance and military readiness in the Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors. Diplomatic channels, including meetings under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India–China Border Affairs (WMCC) and the Special Representatives’ dialogue, have sought to prevent escalation.
In October 2021, China and Bhutan signed an MOU on a three-step roadmap to accelerate boundary negotiations, indicating a possible movement towards resolution. However, India continues to monitor these developments closely to ensure that its strategic interests are not compromised.

International and Regional Implications

The Doklam episode was not merely a bilateral issue but carried wider geopolitical implications:

• India–China Rivalry: The incident reflected the broader strategic competition between the two Asian powers, also visible in the Galwan Valley clash (2020).
• Bhutan’s Diplomatic Autonomy: It highlighted Bhutan’s cautious diplomacy between two large neighbours.
• Global Attention: The standoff drew attention from global powers such as the United States and Japan, both of which supported the principle of maintaining status quo and respect for sovereignty.
• Himalayan Geopolitics: The event reinforced the Himalayas’ status as a theatre of strategic contestation involving geography, military logistics, and infrastructure expansion.

Legal and Diplomatic Dimensions

From a legal standpoint, India’s involvement in Doklam rests on two key foundations:

1. The 2007 India–Bhutan Treaty, which provides for mutual cooperation on national interests and security.
2. The 2012 India–China understanding, under which the location of the trijunction was to be finalised in consultation with all three countries.