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By Aadil Brar
China News Reporter
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China continues to construct new villages on the land of a small Himalayan neighbor, Hong Kong newspaper the South China Morning Post (SCMP) has reported.
Amid the serene but contested landscapes of the Himalayas, China has made bold strides in expanding its footprint by constructing new villages within areas disputed with Bhutan.
"The village is one of at least three built by China inside the disputed zone. Local governments in the Tibet autonomous region led a rapid expansion of border villages last year, with Tamalung doubling in size in the latter half of 2023," SCMP reported on February 18.
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The development is linked to China's ongoing construction of new villages and other infrastructure along the border with Bhutan. China and Bhutan are currently negotiating a border deal which may include swapping territory. However, the Bhutanese government finds itself in a tough position as it has been unable to stop the encroachment into its territory despite ongoing negotiations with Beijing over a border deal.
The move to establish and expand these villages is framed by Chinese officials as part of a state-led poverty alleviation scheme aimed at enhancing living conditions. Chinese leader Xi Jinping initiated the poverty alleviation program with a vision to lift millions of Chinese people out of poverty. Through the program, the Chinese government has provided housing and settled people into new areas to improve their living standards.
"Chinese construction at the border will not influence its border talks with Bhutan," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a reply to a request by SCMP.
Newsweek had earlier reported on December 13 about China's new constriction in Jakarlung Valley and Menchuma Valley in northern Bhutan. Tamalung is located north of Jakarlung Valley and Menchuma Valley along the contested boundary between China and Bhutan, Newsweek's analysis suggests.
The imagery of Jakarlung Valley, captured by Maxar Technologies on December 7, revealed extensive construction activity, pinpointing one of the areas where China's quiet yet assertive territorial expansion is taking place.
But SCMP's revelation adds new details about the new dual-use villages coming up along the border with Bhutan.
According to satellite imagery provided by U.S.-based Maxar Technologies, just seven days before the arrival of its new inhabitants, Tamalung showcased the construction of 147 new houses, the SCMP reported.
This imagery underscores the swift pace of development in the region, which has seen Tamalung and at least two other villages emerge within the disputed zone, marking a significant expansion of China's presence, the SCMP reported.
However, the strategic positioning of these settlements also serves to strengthen China's national security posture, effectively acting as "citadels" on the frontier.
"Local officials and state media have described the dual function of the villages – to provide modern housing and defend the border – as coming from the very top of the party," SCMP reported, citing Chinese state media reports.
On December 28, a symbolic moment unfolded as 18 new Chinese residents, carrying large framed portraits of President Xi Jinping, stood before their newly built homes in Tamalung. This group, representing the first batch of 38 households from the Tibetan city of Shigatse to settle in the expanded village, was welcomed by banners in Chinese and Tibetan script, the Tibet Federation of Industry and Commerce said on WeChat, according to SCMP.
The expansion of Tamalung is part of a larger plan designed to accommodate 235 households, a significant increase from the 200 individuals living in just 70 homes at the end of 2022, SCMP reported.
Despite ongoing border talks, the ambition of Lhozhag County does not stop with Tamalung.
"But while officials continue to hold border talks, Lhozhag county has already announced plans in its 2023 annual report to further expand Gyalaphug and Tamalung villages into towns," SCMP reported.
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