China demands territorial concessions to bring it closer to India's sensitive Siliguri Corridor

Surya Gangadharan, CNN-IBN

New Delhi: A tense game is being played out on Bhutan's border with China where Beijing is demanding territorial concessions that could bring it closer to India's sensitive Siliguri Corridor. Visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley is expected to brief Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday.

Thinley will be discussing more than gross national happiness when he meets Manmohan. Sources told CNN-IBN that Bhutan is under mounting pressure from Beijing to settle a territorial issue on its terms.

China rejects the present border with Bhutan - it says the border should actually run about eight kilometre deep inside Bhutan, curving all the way down to the Dolam plateau which is the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction. The claim reflects its insecurity over the Chumbi valley in Tibet. All troop and vehicle movements can be monitored by Indian troops stationed in Sikkim and all Chinese posts and logistic hubs are within range of Indian artillery.