The Making Of "Special" Relationship Between India And Bhutan (1946-1950)

The “special” relationship between India and Bhutan refers to the unequal relationship that Bhutan’s diplomacy was controlled by India formed by India’s signing of unequal treaties with the government of Bhutan on the basis of the “colonial” relationship between British India and Bhutan around the time of India’s independence,and continues to this day.Historically,Bhutan was a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty and was closely associated with Chinese Tibet.The traditional relationship between Bhutan and Chinese Tibet was broken with the arrival of British colonists.In order to safeguard its colonial interests in South Asia and realize its strategic intention of economic,military and geographical domination of Bhutan,the British colonialists successively took the measures of force,coercion,inducement,and treaty binding to separate Bhutan from the barrier of China’s Tibet,thus forming a “colonial” relationship with Bhutan.During the period of British withdrawal from the Indian subcontinent,in order to realize Indian national interests,the leaders of the National Congress Party planned to inherit all the heritage of British colonists in Bhutan.However,Bhutan aspires to acquire full sovereignty and independence.Therefore,the two sides started a big game.During the period of independence,India’s interim government mainly adopted the strategy of pacifying and stabilizing Bhutan,without substantive negotiations with Bhutan.After independence,the new Indian government initially asked Bhutan to join the Indian Federation,after being frustrated,then modifying policies,used its interests to lure Bhutan to stay in its sphere of influence.At the time of the founding of new China,in order to eliminate the possible influence of Chinese forces on India’s border,India tried to sign a contract to recognize Bhutan’s autonomy in exchange for Bhutan’s foreign and defense rights,and then improve India’s northeast defense system.But Bhutan insisted on the exchange of diplomatic rights only.Finally,in 1949,the two sides signed the treaty of permanent peace and friendship between India and Bhutan on the basis of the colonial treaty signed by British India and Bhutan.This is an unequal treaty,indicating that India successfully inherited the British Indian colonial heritage in Bhutan and obtained the right to “guide” Bhutanese diplomacy.Thus,the “special” relationship between India and Bhutan was made.After the 1949 Treaty was signed,India has gradual strengthened its control over Bhutan’s defense,military,economic,political,and diplomatic fields in the name of “friendliness” and “assistance”.India’s interference and control of Bhutan’s internal and external affairs have resulted in the fact that Bhutan is not yet a fully independent and sovereign country.While India enjoys a privileged position in Bhutan,it also faces many negative effects.India held up the banner of “anti-colonialism” to build the country,but handled the relationship with Bhutan in a “colonialism” way and continues till now.This historical phenomenon is worth pondering.