India casts wary eye on revived China-Bhutan boundary talks

Bhutanese king visits India days after foreign minister's rare trip to Beijing

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrives to offer prayers at a temple in Guwahati, India, on Nov. 3. His visit to India comes shortly after renewed border talks between Bhutan and China. © AP

KIRAN SHARMA, Nikkei staff writer, and PHUNTSHO WANGDI, Contributing writer

November 5, 2023 19:05 JST

NEW DELHI/THIMPHU -- Signs of possible progress in long-running boundary talks between China and Bhutan have caught India's attention as Beijing steps up efforts to establish diplomatic ties with the tiny Himalayan nation.

Bhutan, a landlocked kingdom nestled between nuclear-armed India and China, held a 25th round of boundary talks with Chinese officials in late October, during a rare visit to Beijing by Bhutanese Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Tandi Dorji.