Alarm over Chinese incursion

[Walt Starr]

Alarm over Chinese incursion
Pramod Giri

Thimphu, December 28, 2005|10:22 IST

The Chinese are in Bhutan — its soldiers are building roads and bridges deep inside the country and setting off alarms in both Thimphu and Delhi. Over 200 Chinese soldiers crossed into Bhutan in mid-November and since then, the relations between the two countries have been on the edge.

Bhutan, which has a 470-km unfenced border with China, considers the unasked-for presence of the Red Army in its territory as a violation of the 1998 Sino-Bhutanese border treaty of peace and tranquillity. Rattled by the developments, the tiny kingdom, which shares a special relationship and a 605-km border with India, has also informed the Indian home ministry.

The matter also came up before Bhutan's National Assembly and foreign minister Khandu Wangchuk promised the House that the matter would soon be taken up with the Chinese authorities.

<snip>

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1583871,000500020006.htm

[ixion]

1. thanks Bush Doctrine for making barbarian expansionism fashionable

once again. :cry:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. Yes.

Lord knows, the Chinese government had no interest in "barbarian expansionism" before Bush.

[ugarte]

3. I think ixion's point is that the USA no longer has any moral authority

After Iraq, how can it credibly condemn what China is doing?

[ixion]

4. but even more than that it has legitimized it

that's what concerns me. The fact that US openly and quite illegally invaded a sovereign nation paved the way for expansionism from anyone (in this case, China) to act as aggressor to weaker nations simply because 'the US did it'.

It's called a slippery slope, and BushCo provided the Vaseline®.

[ugarte]

8. I agree. Bush's "war on terror" essentially gives any country the right

to ignore borders in order to "preempt" a threat.

[ixion]

5. see my post below...

I said fashionable, not 'interest'. I think the secret goal of any nation-state is domination. My point was that the Bush Doctrine has essentially tried to legitimize expansionism, and we have voided our right to protest because of it.

[WestMichRad]

11. I do hope your reply was intended as sarcasm.

China has been quite willing to expand into neighboring territories - remember what they've done in Tibet?

But I do agree with others that the US policy gives this administration no moral authority to object to Chinese actions - or those of any other countries with imperialistic intent.

It's a pretty sad state of affairs, isn't it?

[Phoonzang]

6. I haven't seen news of this anywhere else

I can't even find anything about it on the BBC site. You'd think this would be at least moderately important news. So far the only source for this story that I can find is the Hindustan Times.

[Orsino]

7. Idiots. Don't they know they're supposed to start in Afghanistan?

Oh, I get it. This incursion will be completely different.

[Bucky]

9. Actually, for Russia Afghanistan was their last, not first, incursion

If you don't count Lithuania. Or Chechniya.

[Ian David]

10. What, no Bhutan suicide bombers sneaking past the security fence? n/t

[lovuian]

12. My son was in Bhutan last month... Scary Scary place!!!

He walked out of his hotel but after 50 yards he turned around and went back... He told me later the shoes on his feet would feed a family for half a year there...

Ya poverty no military great access to Singapore... its a Military Strategists must have...

China is getting aggressive and it sees these countries as easy pickings... Singapore is really what China is licking its chops for...

Its not like Tawain which has defenses Singapore has no army except for its allies...if we do go to WWIII ... Oh ya Singapore is the prize Gem...

[Johnyawl]

13. WHAT???!!!!

"...great access to Singapore..."

Have you looked at an atlas in this lifetime? Bhutan doesn't have great access to ANYWHERE.

[lovuian]

14. Your Right I have the wrong Bataam its a different place!!!

Sorry Sorry!!!