# Pangda

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pangda.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangda
> Source revision: 1314729160
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{{Short description|Chinese-administered village east of the India-Bhutan-China trijunction}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Pangda
| official_name                   = 
| native_name                     = 庞达
| settlement_type                 = Village
| image_map                       = Doklam-LSIB-vs-Chinese-claims-with-Pangda-village.jpg
| map_caption                     = Doklam area
| pushpin_map                     = Bhutan
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location of Pangda in Bhutan
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = Unknown
| established_date                = October 2020
| population_est                  = 124
| pop_est_as_of                   = 2020
| coordinates                     = {{coord|27|18|25.1994|N|89|0|28.7994|E}}
| elevation_m                     = 2,140
}}

'''Pangda''' (庞达村) is a village constructed by China in the [Doklam](/source/Doklam) region near the [India](/source/India)-[Bhutan](/source/Bhutan)-[China](/source/China) trijunction. It is approximately 10&nbsp;km east of the trijunction in territory claimed by China but shown as part of Bhutan in some international maps. The village was constructed in 2020 on the bank of the [Amo Chhu](/source/Amo_Chhu) river (or Torsa River).

Media reports in November 2020 said that the village was constructed approximately {{Convert|2|km|mi|abbr=}} within Bhutanese territory based on third-party satellite images.<ref name="NDTV">{{Cite web|title=China Sets Up Village Within Bhutan, 9 Km From Doklam Face-Off Site|url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-sets-up-village-within-bhutan-9-km-from-doklam-face-off-site-2327563|access-date=2020-11-24|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/><ref name="scmp">{{cite news|url= https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3112712/near-china-bhutan-india-border-new-village-drawing-attention |work=[South China Morning Post](/source/South_China_Morning_Post) |title= Near the China-Bhutan-India border, a new village is drawing attention to old disputes |first1=Liu |last1=Zhen |first2=Kunal |last2=Purohit |date=6 December 2020 |accessdate=7 December 2020}}</ref> This was later denied by Bhutan and China.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/><ref name="scmp"/>

== History ==

=== Background ===
{{main|2017 China–India border standoff}}
China has had ongoing claims to the [Doklam](/source/Doklam) region at the border between its [Yadong County](/source/Yadong_County) and Bhutan's [Haa District](/source/Haa_District) near the trijunction with India. The region is the basin of a small stream called Doklam stream (also called Torsa Nala), which originates on the Doklam plateau and joins the [Amo Chhu](/source/Amo_Chhu) river 15 km downstream.

In 2017, Indian and Chinese forces skirmished on the Doklam plateau after China attempted to extend a road across the Doklam stream towards the Zhompelri ridge that overlooks the Indian plains.<ref name="Siliguri">{{citation|author=Shaurya Karanbir Gurung|title=Behind China's Sikkim aggression, a plan to isolate Northeast from rest of India|date=3 July 2017|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/border-face-off-why-china-tries-to-break-chickens-neck-to-isolate-northeast/articleshow/59420472.cms/|newspaper=Economic Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824145907/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/border-face-off-why-china-tries-to-break-chickens-neck-to-isolate-northeast/articleshow/59420472.cms|archive-date=24 August 2017}}</ref> After several injuries on both sides, India and China withdrew their forces to previously held positions, effectively ending the standoff.<ref name="WP agree">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/india-withdraws-troops-from-disputed-himalayan-region-defusing-tension-with-china/2017/08/28/b92fddb6-8bc7-11e7-a2b0-e68cbf0b1f19_story.html India, China agree to pull back troops to resolve tense border dispute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829011815/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/india-withdraws-troops-from-disputed-himalayan-region-defusing-tension-with-china/2017/08/28/b92fddb6-8bc7-11e7-a2b0-e68cbf0b1f19_story.html|date=29 August 2017}}, The Washington Post, 28 August 2017</ref> Despite the disengagement, satellite imagery showed that China continued to develop the area and reinforce the disputed region.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|author=James Griffiths and Manveena Suri|title=Satellite images appear to show China developing area along disputed border with India and Bhutan|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/24/asia/china-india-bhutan-doklam-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=2020-11-24|website=CNN}}</ref>

=== Village construction ===
Satellite images on 28 October 2020 showed a new village being constructed on the banks of Amo Chhu. Chinese state media claimed that residents moved into the new village in September 2020 from [Shangdui](/source/Shangdui) village in [Yadong county](/source/Yadong_County).<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Krishnan|first=Ananth|date=2020-11-23|title=China’s media show new Bhutan border village built in disputed territory|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinas-media-show-new-bhutan-border-village-built-in-disputed-territory/article33162585.ece|access-date=2020-11-24|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In November 2020, media reports said that the village was constructed approximately {{Convert|2|km|mi|abbr=}} within Bhutanese territory based on third-party open source maps.<ref name="NDTV"/><ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/><ref name="scmp"/> The reports were denied by the Chinese [Ministry of Foreign Affairs](/source/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China), ''[The Bhutanese](/source/The_Bhutanese)'', and the Bhutanese ambassador to India, who said that "there is no Chinese village inside Bhutan."<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/><ref name="scmp"/> Following the denial of Pangda's encroachment of the Bhutanese border, Chinese media portrayed the accusations as an attempt by India to sow discord between Bhutan and China and drive a wedge between the two nations.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Seidel|first=Jamie|date=25 November 2020|title=Photo reveals village that shouldn’t exist: Chinese village built on disputed territory in Bhutan|work=news.com.au|url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/deleted-tweet-reveals-chinese-village-built-on-disputed-territory-in-bhutan/news-story/e3153e7b2cafec9e8fb1528399b88bec}}</ref>

Further construction took place in 2021. This primarily consisted of a cluster of 38 new buildings north of the primary settlement and was completed in November.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 December 2021 |title=Sneak peek into new Chinese villages near Bhutan border |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/sneak-peek-new-chinese-villages-bhutan-border-1886442-2021-12-10 |access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> The village was classified as [xiaokang](/source/Moderately_prosperous_society), or moderately well-off, according to official Chinese statements.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 December 2021 |title=China encroaches into Bhutanese territory, may have similar plans in other neighbouring countries: Reports |work=ANI News |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/china-encroaches-into-bhutanese-territory-may-have-similar-plans-in-other-neighbouring-countries-reports20211220213758/ |access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Pangda village was constructed directly on the banks of the [Torsa River](/source/Torsa_River), 10&nbsp;km south of any other Chinese settlement in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-06|title=Why so much interest in new village near the China-Bhutan-India border?|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3112712/near-china-bhutan-india-border-new-village-drawing-attention|access-date=2020-12-10|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}</ref> It appears to have been constructed on a sandbank. There is one road that leads out of the village, and a small retaining wall was constructed to keep floodwaters out of the village.<ref name=":0" />

== Demographics ==
According to Chinese state media in 2020, there were 27 households in the village with 124 people.<ref name=":1" /> There are two administrative buildings in the village, and the villagers are reported to be primarily employed in tourism, fishing, and border patrol.<ref name="scmp" />

== Map ==
{{OSM Location map|coord={{coord|27|18|25.1994|N|89|0|28.7994|E}}|float=center|label1=Pangda (庞达村)|height=200|width=400|zoom=10|mark-coord1={{coord|27|18|25.1994|N|89|0|28.7994|E}}|mark-description1=Chinese-administered village|mark-size1=8|mark-title1=Pangda (庞达村)|mark1=Red pog.svg}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Bhutan–China border

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pangda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangda?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
