Chumbi Valley
Topic: India and her Neighbours · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Chumbi valley is a wedge-shaped piece of Tibet (China) that pushes south between Sikkim and Bhutan. Its tip points straight at the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow strip of land that joins India's North-East to the rest of the country. If an enemy held land close to this corridor, it could threaten that link. This is why India watches the valley closely.
Example
Doklam is a plateau near the southern end of the Chumbi valley, close to the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction (the point where the three countries meet). In 2017 it saw a 73-day India-China standoff (June-August) over a Chinese road.
Don't confuse with
- Siliguri Corridor: the Siliguri Corridor is Indian land in north West Bengal, about 20-22 km wide at its narrowest. The Chumbi valley is Chinese land to the north of it.
Related concepts
- India-Nepal border
- India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship
- Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura
- Mahakali Treaty (1996)
- India-Bhutan relations
- Doklam
- Siliguri Corridor