People's Republic of China
Bhutan has no diplomatic relations with its northern neighbor, the People's Republic of China. The border between Bhutan and China has been closed since the invasion of Tibet in 1959, causing an influx of refugees. The border also remains undelineated; in 1961 China published a map that altered the traditional border. Tensions have since lessened, especially after the signing of a 1998 agreement on border peace and tranquility, the first bilateral agreement between China and Bhutan. Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, Bhutan has also maintained an Honorary Consul in Macau since 2000 and Hong Kong since 2004.
In late 2005, Bhutan claimed that Chinese soldiers were building roads and bridges within Bhutanese territory. Bhutanese Foreign Minister Khandu Wangchuk took up the matter with Chinese authorities after the issue was raised in the Bhutanese parliament. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang of the People's Republic of China has said that the border remains in dispute and that the two sides are continuing to work for a peaceful and cordial resolution of the dispute. The Bhutanese newspaper Kuensel has said that China might use the roads to further Chinese claims along the border.
Read more about this topic: Foreign Relations Of Bhutan
Famous quotes containing the words people, republic and/or china:
“The best people renounce all for one goal, the eternal fame of mortals; but most people stuff themselves like cattle.”
—Heraclitus (c. 535475 B.C.)
“The United States is a republic, and a republic is a state in which the people are the boss. That means us. And if the big shots in Washington dont do like we vote, we dont vote for them, by golly, no more.”
—Willis Goldbeck (19001979)
“Ever since I was a little girl, Ive, Ive dreamed of havin my own things about me. My spinet over there and a table here. My own chairs to rest upon and a dresser over there in that corner, and my own china and pewter shinin about me.”
—Frank S. Nugent (19081965)