Forceful Diplomacy: China’s Cross-Border Villages in Bhutan

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Forceful Diplomacy: China's Cross-Border Villages in Bhutan

In 2016, China began constructing a village in territory generally understood to be part of Bhutan. It was five years before the existence of that village was discovered by outside observers or noticed by foreign governments.

By that time, China had already built two other villages within Bhutan’s customary borders. These too were located in remote areas high in the Himalayas or in Himalayan gorges.

There are now 22 such villages and settlements. Judging from satellite imagery, these Chinese villages and settlements consist of some 752 residential blocks divided into an estimated 2,284 residential units, each suitable for one family-sized unit. To fill these units, the Chinese authorities have relocated or are currently relocating approximately 7,000 people to these previously unpopulated areas of Bhutan, together with an unknown number of officials, construction workers, border police and military.