Bhutan squeezed by China-India Standoff
中印對峙，不丹難堪
The Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan is best known as an idyllic getaway for wealthy tourists seeking the spiritual and exotic. Now, however, the tiny mountain nation is being tested on its realpolitics, grappling with the bitter rivalry of its two giant neighbors, China and India.
Earlier this summer, China began extanding an unpaved road in the disputed territory, and india sent troops and equipment to block the work. The incursion has resulted a tense standoff that has lasted more than 50 days.
India says it is acting on Bhutan's behalf, while such "benevolence" received little gratitude from its protecterate.
India has been in charge of Bhutan's defence affairs soon after China's annexation of Tibet, which provoked great concerns in Bhutan for its close ties with Tibet in terms of ethic,culture and religion.
However, India's clout in Bhutan has been causing hatred, and such festering resentments are further inflammed by the latest standoff. While Bhutan is seeking closer ties with Beijing, India's cuddle is thus becoming more suffocating.
That being said, this standoff does not, so far, invoolve Bhutanese forces, and state television and even the independent news media have followed the government's lead and said virtually nothing about the conflict, in an obvious attempt of not offending neither China nor India.