Neighbours wary as Doklam crisis drags on

• Neighbours wary as Doklam crisis drags on

Context

• From Nepal to the Philippines, countries in South and South-East Asia are keenly observing the Doklam crisis, wary of taking sides, but also keeping a close eye on subtle power shifts that the unfolding crisis embroiling China and India may reveal.

Different sides taken by different countries

• During a visit to Islamabad by China’s Vice Premier, Wang Yang, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence, the Pakistani side backed all positions adopted by China, ranging from Doklam to the South China Sea (SCS).
• Japan became the first G-7 country to support India’s position on the Doklam issue.
• In New Delhi, Japan’s Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu acknowledged that the Doklam area “is disputed between China and Bhutan,” countering Beijing’s claim that the stand-off was taking place on Chinese sovereign territory.
• Nepal, sharing common borders with India and China, has expressed neutrality on the Doklam standoff, and called for a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the crisis.
• But in the Asia-Pacific, the Doklam face-off is being conflated with regional contests between China and several members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the SCS.
• The rising tensions in Doklam may have perpetrators on both sides of the fence, but for many in East Asia it underscores the fact that China is embroiled in multiple territorial disputes across the Eurasian landmass and rim land.
• The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP), quoted foreign policy specialists is reporting that the protracted border dispute between China and India in the Himalayas “has created a ‘spillover effect’ as China’s neighbours become unsettled by its tough handling of the escalating conflict between the two Asian giants.
• India’s standing up to China can only be a boon for South-East Asian countries even when they don’t say so openly.
• Any major power keeping China in check can only yield geopolitical benefits to South-East Asia as the region is wary of China’s growing assertiveness.