With polls 3 days away, all big Bhutan players swear by India
Bhutan may introduce a law or convention to stop its political parties from making its relationship with India an election issue in future. After weeks of mudslinging over who “displeased or provoked” India, the kingdom’s incumbent party, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), and the major opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP)...
Bhutan’s road to democracy leads to China?
By Sachin Parashar NEW DELHI: There’s a new anxiety in the top echelons of New Delhi about what’s arguably India’s only friendly neighbour, Bhutan. As the hill kingdom takes another baby step in its transition from monarchy to democracy with its second parliamentary election on July 13, there’s realization...
Bhutan bid to UNSC failed
The United Nations General Assembly has elected Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea and Rwanda to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2013. The five countries obtained the required two-thirds majority of those Member States present and voting in...
Aiming for UNSC seat
28 September 2012 – In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigmi Y. Thinley, today highlighted a range of challenges and areas of progress before the international community, while also affirming his country’s intent to seek a seat on the Security Council....
The Bhutan-China-India Triangle
Rajeev Sharma Introduction This article seeks to examine the growing strategic and diplomatic importance of Bhutan for its big neighbours: China and India. China has recently intensified its efforts to woo Bhutan and engage with it directly, despite the lack of diplomatic ties between them. To improve relations with...
When the small dragon met the big one
The meeting between Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley of Bhutan and Premier Wen Jiabao of China on 21 June 2012, on the sidelines of the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil, sprung a surprise for most India-Bhutan-China watchers. It stirred the calm waters of Bhutan-India relations. With headlines like ‘China’s coziness...