CHINA-BHUTAN: CHINA CREATES NEW VILLAGE 2.5 KMS INSIDE BHUTAN
Shen Shiwei, a news producer of the State-owned CGTN, last week tweeted and later deleted four images establishing that China had formed Pangda village, a new residential area. Nathan Ruser, a satellite imagery expert, claimed that the location of the new village was 2.5 km inside the Bhutanese border. It is believed that this road could ultimately give the Chinese forces an alternate route to the Zompelri ridge, which the Indian Army had prevented Chinese forces from accessing in 2017 when the two sides faced off on the Doklam plateau. Bhutan’s ambassador to India, Major General V. Namgyel, denied this claim and said to The Wire that “There is no Chinese village inside Bhutan." Tenzing Lamsang, the editor of The Bhutanese Newspaper also supported the Ambassador and pointed out that the accusations of encroachment may not be accurate considering that Thimpu is quick to bring up any minor encroachments to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi.
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