Bji Gewog

{{Infobox settlement |official_name = Bji Gewog |native_name = སྦྱིས་ |settlement_type = Gewogs |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |mapframe = yes |pushpin_map = Bhutan Haa |pushpin_mapsize = 300px |pushpin_map_caption = Bji Gewog in Bhutan's Haa district |coordinates = {{coord|27.4745|89.1917|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Bhutan}} |subdivision_type1 = District |subdivision_name1 = Haa District |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |established_title = |established_date = |unit_pref = Metric |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 802.2 |area_land_km2 = |population_as_of = 2017 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 3230 |population_density_km2 = auto |timezone = BTT |utc_offset = +6 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |footnotes = }} '''Bji Gewog'''{{efn|Alternative spellings: '''Bje''' and '''Bjee'''.}} (Dzongkha: སྦྱིས་) is a gewog (village block) of Haa District, Bhutan.<ref name="Dzongkhag"/><ref name="delimitation"/> It is the northernmost gewog of the Haa District, bordering China's Chumbi Valley (Yadong County). The gewog has mostly mountainous terrain, with rivers flowing into Amo Chu in the west and the Haa Chu in the east. China claims a large part of the gewog as its territory and has recently started building roads and villages in the border areas.<ref name="Barnett">{{citation |first=Robert |last=Barnett |title=China Is Building Entire Villages in Another Country's Territory |newspaper=Foreign Policy |date=7 May 2021 |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/07/china-bhutan-border-villages-security-forces/}}</ref><ref name="NDTV">Vishnu Som, [https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/exclusive-high-res-images-new-chinese-enclaves-in-bhutan-show-166-buildings-roads-2706044 Exclusive: In Latest Threat To India, China Builds Illegal Villages Inside Bhutan], NDTV News, 13 January 2022.</ref>

== Geography ==

In 2002, the Ninth Plan document reported that the Bji Gewog had an area of 832 square kilometres and contained 234 households in 8 villages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pc.gov.bt/fyp/Gewogs/ha_Bji.pdf |title=Bji Gewog Ninth Plan (2002-2007) |publisher=Haa Dzongkhag Royal Government of Bhutan |access-date=August 25, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2013, in the Eleventh Plan document, the area was reported as 802.2 square kilometres.<ref name="eleventh plan"/>{{rp|1}} The reduction of 30 square kilometres is attributable to a possible cession of the Kongbu region<ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/14411906#map=11/27.4915/89.0648 Kongbu region], OpenStreetMap, retrieved 2 August 2022.</ref> to China. It is not being shown as belonging to Bhutan in the current maps.<ref name="eleventh plan"/>{{rp|8}}

The Bji Gewog mostly consists of mountainous terrain, with mountains belonging to the Massang-Chungdung range (also called Jomolhari range). The western part of the gewog is part of the Amo Chu river basin, with a series of tributary rivers rising in the range and flowing into Amo Chu. The eastern part of the gewog is part of the Haa River basin. The lower portion of the Haa River valley, below the Damthang camp is well-populated.<ref name="delimitation"/> (Map 2)

=== Amo Chu basin === The Amo Chu basin in the gewog is part of Torsa national forest and is designated as a "strict nature reserve". There is no permanent habitation in the area, but the area is open for grazing by pastoral nomads, who use several campsites for their halts.{{OSM Location map | coord = {{coord|27.42|89.10}}  | float = right | zoom = 10 | width = 310 | height = 350 | caption = Map 2: Rivers of the Bji Gewog | nolabels = 1   | map-data-light = Q10871647, Q4919618 | map-data-text = Doklam area | map-data-color = Orange  | mark-coord1 = {{coord|27.2739637|88.9000613}} | mark1 = BlackRedMountain.svg | mark-size1 = 20 | label1 = | label-size1 = 10 | label-color1 = hard red | label-pos1 = left | label-offset-x1 = 0 | label-offset-y1 = 0 | mark-title1 = Mount Gipmochi | mark-image1 = | mark-description1 = Mount Gipmochi  | mark-coord2 = {{coord|27.327083|88.920928}} | mark2 = Mountain pass 12x12 n.svg | mark-size2 = 12 | label2 = | label-size2 = 10 | label-color2 = hard grey | label-pos2 = right |label-offset-x2 = 0 |label-offset-y2 = 0 | mark-title2 = Batang La | mark-image2 = | mark-description2 = Bhutanese claim of trijunction point  | mark-coord3 = {{coord|27.3382507|88.9364553}} | mark3 = BlackRedMountain.svg | mark-size3 = 20 | label3 = | label-size3 = 10 | label-color3 = hard red | label-pos3 = top |label-offset-x3 = 0 |label-offset-y3 = 0 | mark-title3 = Merug La | mark-image3 = | mark-description3 = The highest point in Doklam  | mark-coord4 = {{coord|27.294902|N|88.913102|E}} | mark4 = Mountain pass 12x12 e.svg | mark-size4 = 12 | label4 = | label-size4 = 10 | label-color4 = hard grey | label-pos4 = right |label-offset-x4 = 0 |label-offset-y4 = 0 | mark-title4 = Doka La | mark-image4 = | mark-description4 = Position of standoff  | mark-coord5 = {{coord|27.310497|88.961772}} | mark5 = Mountain pass 12x12 ne.svg | mark-size5 = 12 | label5 = Sinchela | label-size5 = 10 | label-color5 = black | label-pos5 = top |label-offset-x5 = 10 |label-offset-y5 = 0 | mark-title5 = Sinchela | mark-image5 = | mark-description5 = Part of the prevailing border  | mark-coord6 = {{coord|27.272|89.0138}}  | mark6 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg | mark-size6 = 15 | label6 = Amo Chu | label-size6 = 10 | label-color6 = hard blue | label-pos6 = right |label-offset-x6 = 0 |label-offset-y6 = 0 | mark-title6 = Amo Chu river | mark-image6= | mark-description6= Part of the prevailing border  | mark-coord7 = {{coord|27.4204|88.9354}}  | mark7 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg | mark-size7 = 15 | label7 = Amo Chu | label-size7 = 10 | label-color7 = hard blue | label-pos7 = top |label-offset-x7 = 0 |label-offset-y7 = 0 | mark-title7 = Amo Chu river | mark-image7= | mark-description7= Called Torsa river in India             | mark-coord9 = {{coord|27.4893046|88.9050579}} | mark9 = Red pog.svg | mark-size9 = 10 | label9 = Yatung | label-size9 = 10 | label-color9 = dark red | label-pos9 = right |label-offset-x9 = 0 |label-offset-y9 = 0 | mark-title9 = Yatung | mark-image9= | mark-description9= Sharsigma  | mark-coord10 = {{coord|27.4717|89.0018}} | mark10 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg | mark-size10 = 12 | label10 = Langmarpo | label-size10 = 10 | label-color10 = hard blue | label-pos10 = right |label-offset-x10 = 0 |label-offset-y10 = 0 | mark-title10 = Langmarpo Chu | mark-image10 = | mark-description10 = Tributary of Amo Chu  | mark-coord12 = {{coord|27.4232|89.0289}} | mark12 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg | mark-size12 = 12 | label12 = Charitang | label-size12 = 10 | label-color12 = hard blue | label-pos12 = right |label-offset-x12 = 0 |label-offset-y12 = 0 | mark-title12 = Charitang Chu/Sharitang Chu | mark-image12 = | mark-description12 = Tributary of Amo Chu  | mark-coord13 = {{coord|27.4355438|89.1146937}} | mark13 = Mountain pass 12x12 e.svg | mark-size13 = 12 | label13 = Kyu La | label-size13 = 10 | label-color13 = black | label-pos13 = top |label-offset-x13 = -15 |label-offset-y13 = 0 | mark-title13 = Kyu La | mark-image13 = | mark-description13 = Mountain pass  | mark-coord14 = {{coord|27.4383625|89.1362727}} | mark14 = Mountain pass 12x12 e.svg | mark-size14 = 12 | label14 = | label-size14 = 10 | label-color14 = hard grey | label-pos14 = top |label-offset-x14 = 0 |label-offset-y14 = 0 | mark-title14 = Ha La | mark-image14 = | mark-description14 = Mountain pass  | mark-coord15 = {{coord|27.3149|89.0517}}  | mark15 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg | mark-size15 = 12 | label15 = Yak Chu | label-size15 = 10 | label-color15 = hard blue | label-pos15 = right |label-offset-x15 = 0 |label-offset-y15 = 0 | mark-title15 = Yak Chu | mark-image15 = | mark-description15 = Tributary of Amo Chu  | mark-coord16 = {{coord|27.5438204|89.1158906}} | mark16 = BlackRedMountain.svg | mark-size16 = 20 | label16 = Khungdugang | label-size16 = 10 | label-color16 = hard red | label-pos16 = bottom |label-offset-x16 = 20 |label-offset-y16 = -10 | mark-title16 = Khundugang | mark-image16 = | mark-description16 =  | mark-coord17 = {{coord|27.57439|89.16255}} | mark17 = BlackRedMountain.svg | mark-size17 = 20 | label17 = Masang | label-size17 = 10 | label-color17 = hard red | label-pos17 = right |label-offset-x17 = 0 |label-offset-y17 = -10 | mark-title17 = Masang peak | mark-image17 = | mark-description17 =  | mark-coord18 = {{coord|27.4365|89.2028}} | mark18 = Red pog.svg | mark-size18 = 6 | label18 = Damthang | label-size18 = 10 | label-color18 = hard red | label-pos18 = top |label-offset-x18 = 0 |label-offset-y18 = 0 | mark-title18 = Damthang | mark-image18 = | mark-description18 =  | mark-coord19 = {{coord|27.4175|89.2387}} | mark19 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg | mark-size19 = 12 | label19 = Haa Chu | label-size19 = 10 | label-color19 = hard blue | label-pos19 = right |label-offset-x19 = 0 |label-offset-y19 = 0 | mark-title19 = Haa Chu | mark-image19 = | mark-description19 =   | mark-coord21 = {{coord|27.2598|88.9838}} | mark21 = Red pog.svg | mark-size21 = 0 | label21 = DOKLAM | label-color21 = dark grey | label-pos21 = center | label-angle21 = 45 | mark-image21 = | mark-title21 = Doklam | mark-description21 = claimed by China  | mark-coord22 = {{coord|27.32|88.83}} | mark22 = Red pog.svg | mark-size22 = 0 | label22 = SIKKIM | label-size22 = 12 | label-color22 = dark grey | label-pos22 = left | mark-image22 = | mark-title22 = Sikkim | mark-description22 = State of India  | mark-coord23 = {{coord|27.60|88.96}} | mark23 = Red pog.svg | mark-size23 = 0 | label23 = CHUMBI VALLEY | label-size23 = 12 | label-color23 = dark grey | label-pos23 = bottom | mark-image23 = | mark-title23 = Chumbi Valley | mark-description23 = Part of Tibet (China)  | mark-coord24 = {{coord|27.38|89.08}} | mark24 = Red pog.svg | mark-size24 = 0 | label24 = DISPUTED | label-size24 = 12 | label-color24 = dark grey | label-pos24 = bottom | mark-image24 = | mark-title24 = Haa | mark-description24 = Further region claimed by China  | mark-coord25 = {{coord|27.195|89.07}} | mark25 = Red pog.svg | mark-size25 = 0 | label25 = HAA | label-size25 = 12 | label-color25 = dark grey | label-pos25 = left | mark-image25 = | mark-title25 = Haa | mark-description25 = District of Bhutan  | mark-coord26 = {{coord|27.529|89.0428}} | mark26 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg | mark-size26 = 12 | label26 = Dramana | label-size26 = 10 | label-color26 = hard blue | label-pos26 = top | mark-image26 = | mark-title26 = Dramana/Bjamarnang | mark-description26 = River valley  | mark-coord27 = {{coord|27.4973|89.035}} | mark27 = Red pog.svg | mark-size27 = 0 | label27 = SINCHULUNG | label-size27 = 9 | label-color27 = dark grey | label-pos27 = right | mark-image27 = | mark-title27 = Sinchulung | mark-description27 = High plateau  | mark-coord28 = {{coord|27.6102|89.0869}} | mark28 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg | mark-size28 = 10 | label28 = Shakhatoe | label-size28 = 10 | label-color28 = hard blue | label-pos28 = top | mark-image28 = | mark-title28 = Shakhatoe/Sharkhatoe | mark-description28 = River valley }}

The rivers flowing into Amo Chu are, from the north to south, '''Shakhatoe''' (or Sharkhatoe), '''Dramana''', '''Langmarpo''', '''Charitang''' (or Sharitang), '''Gambala Chu''', and '''Yak Chu'''.<ref name="Barnett"/> (Map 2) thumb|right|310px|Map 3: A CIA map of Bhutan, 2015. Dramana and Shakhatoe marked as forming a disputed area at the northwest of the Haa District

The Dramana and Shakhatoe valleys have been recognised by Bhutan as forming a disputed area. Said to measure a combined area of 138 square kilometres,<ref name="NA 1997">[http://www.nab.gov.bt/assets/uploads/docs/resolution/2014/75th_Session.pdf Proceedings and Resolutions of the 75th Session of the National Assembly held from 20th June to 16th July, 1997], National Assembly of Bhutan, 1997, pp.5–6. "His Majesty the King also reminded the members that the disputed areas of the northern border were 495 square kilometres in the central sector and 269 square kilometres in the western sector {{sic|comprising|hide=y| of}} 89 square kilometres in Doklam, 42 square kilometres in Sinchulung and 138 square kilometres in Dramana and Shakhatoe."</ref><ref name="Penjore">{{citation |last=Penjore |first=Dorji |title=Security of Bhutan: walking between the giants |journal=Journal of Bhutan Studies |volume=10 |date=Summer 2004 |doi=10.14288/1.0365158 |url=https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1810/227045/JBS_10_09.pdf?sequence=2 |page=118}}</ref> the valleys are included in Bhutanese territory, but marked as disputed on maps published after 1989 (Map 3). According to Bhutan's secretary for international boundaries, the pastures of Shakhatoe had always been used by the yak herders of the Haa district.<ref name="Kuensel 2005">{{citation |title=5. Bhutanese Assembly members alarmed by road construction across northern boundary |newspaper=Kuensel |date=8 June 2005 |via=World Tibet Network News |url=http://www.tibet.ca/en/library/wtn/archive/old?y=2005&m=6&p=12_5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027162257/http://www.tibet.ca/en/library/wtn/archive/old?y=2005&m=6&p=12_5 |archive-date=27 October 2017}}</ref> Since August 2004, China has started building its own motor roads in the region, disregarding Bhutanese protests.<ref name="Kuensel 2005"/> By 2022, Chinese occupation of the region seems complete, with a trunk road running through the area, with several branch roads and multiple built-up townships.<ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/14455533#map=12/27.5882/89.0926&layers=C Shakhatoe Valley road], OpenStreetMap, retrieved 13 August 2022.</ref><ref name="TOI+">Nature Desai, [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-chinese-presence-continues-to-grow-in-doklam/articleshow/93390418.cms How Chinese presence continues to grow in Doklam], The Times of India – TOI+, 8 August 2022.</ref>{{efn|In 2010, the secretary for international boundaries mentioned only Dramana as being in dispute without any mention of Shakhatoe.<ref>S. Chandrasekharan, [https://www.c3sindia.org/geopolitics-strategy/bhutans-northern-borderchinas-bullying-and-teasing-tactics/ Bhutan's Northern Border:China's Bullying and Teasing Tactics], Chennai Centre for China Studies, 15 January 2010.</ref>}}

The Langmarpo river is the longest of the tributary rivers. The lower western portion of its valley, with a stream called Kongbu ({{lang-zh|c=空布}}), appears to have been ceded by Bhutan to China by 2018.<ref name="eleventh plan"/>{{rp|8}} The remaining course of the Langmarpo Chu has not been ceded but is under effective occupation of China with a highway and several villages constructed along it.<ref name="TOI+"/> China has also constructed a road in the eastern part of the valley towards the Phutegang ridge, where it overlooks the Charitang valley.<ref name="Kuensel 2005"/><ref name="NA 2005">[http://www.nab.gov.bt/assets/uploads/docs/resolution/2014/83rd_Session.pdf English Translation of the Resolutions of the 83rd Session of the National Assembly of Bhutan], June 2005, p. 15.</ref><ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/14454032#map=14/27.4289/89.0139&layers=C Doslinma Road], OpenStreetMap, retrieved 13 August 2022.</ref> Further up along its course, there is a high plateau with several small lakes at elevations ranging from 3700 to 4400 metres. It is referred to as '''Sinchulung'''<ref name="NA 1997"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kumar |first1=Pranav |last2=Acharya |first2=Alka |last3=Jacob |first3=Jabin T. |title=Sino-Bhutanese Relations |journal=China Report |volume=46 |issue=3 |year=2011 |issn=0009-4455 |doi=10.1177/000944551104600306 |page=247|s2cid=153382221 }}</ref> or '''Sinchulungpa'''{{efn|Alternative spellings: '''Sinchulumpa''' and '''Sinchulumba'''.}} by the Bhutanese.<ref>{{cite book |author=Bart Jordans |date=17 April 2018 |title=Trekking in Bhutan: 22 multi-day treks including the Lunana 'Snowman' Trek, Jhomolhari, Druk Path and Dagala treks |publisher=Cicerone Press Limited |isbn=978-1-78362-599-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W39XDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT52}}</ref><ref>Rudra Chaudhuri, [http://indianexpress.com/article/india/looking-for-godot-doklam-standoff-india-china-bhutan-neighbours/lite/ Looking for Godot], The Indian Express, 3 September 2017. Image 4.</ref> It is said to measure 42 square kilometres, and is part of the 269 square kilometre area that China included in its "package deal" for border settlement.<ref name="NA 1997"/><ref name=Penjore/>{{efn|The "package deal" reportedly offered by China in 1990 was to trade Chinese claims to 495 square kilometres along the northern border for Bhutanese claims to 269 square kilometres adjacent to the Chumbi Valley. Bhutan is said to have turned down the offer.<ref name="NA 1997"/><ref name="Penjore"/> The package deal is always presented as if it constitutes a full settlement of the border dispute, but there is no explicit statement to this effect. Other Chinese encroachments into the Langmarpo and Charitang valleys call this implication into question.}}

The Charitang valley has formed the traditional trade route between the Chumbi Valley and Bhutan. It has a camp at Dolepchen at the base of the valley, a Charitang guest house along the way, and two passes called Kyu La (or Chu La) and Ha La at the top, which must be crossed before entering the Haa Valley where a camp called Damthang is located.<ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/12129848#map=12/27.4207/89.0871&layers=T Kyu La route], OpenStreetMap, retrieved 2 August 2022. </ref><ref>[http://www.nab.gov.bt/assets/uploads/docs/resolution/2014/83rd_Session.pdf English Translation of the Resolutions of the 83rd Session of the National Assembly of Bhutan], June 2005. p. 15. "[..] the track going from Charithang to Dolepchen and the Langmarpo Chhu was the traditional trade route used by Bhutanese traders in the past. Many of our senior officials in government service today also used to travel through this route, crossing over from Dolepchen to Jumu [Dromo] and Sikkim on their way to study in the schools in Kalimpong."</ref> Damthang is connected to the Ha Town by a motorable road.

The Yak Chu river in the south covers a considerably large basin.<ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/12080295 Yak Chu], OpenStreetMap, retrieved 14 August 2022.</ref> China calls this river ''Lulin Chu'' ({{lang-zh|c=鲁林曲}}) and uses the name "Lulin" to describe the region covering both the Charitang and Yak Chu basins.

At the southwestern end, the Amo Chu river forms the border of the Bji Gewog. China's Chumbi Valley begins near the Sinchela Pass according to Bhutan's border definition. From this point, the western bank of the river belongs to China, while the eastern bank is part of the Bji gewog.

To the south of Bji Gewog lies the Sangbay Gewog, where again China claims the area called Doklam, which includes the Doklam plateau and the Torsa Nala basin.

=== Haa Chu basin === The Haa river is deemed to originate below the Khungdugang peak, which extends to an elevation of {{convert|18730|ft}}. It is the second tallest peak in the Massang-Chungdung range after Chomolhari. Two streams originate below the mountain, flowing west and east, and join near the Damthang camp. The result of their merger is the Haa Chu river.

Below Damthang, the Haa Chu valley broadens, containing numerous villages with farmlands. In a branch valley running northeast, there are further villages, and a path to Saga La, allowing one to cross into the Paro Valley near Drukyel Dzong.<ref>{{citation |last=Brown |first=Lindsay David|title=Lonely Planet: Bhutan |publisher=Footscray/Lonely Planet |edition=5th |year=2014 |page=93 |url=https://archive.org/details/bhutan0000brow/page/93 |via=archive.org |url-access=registration}}</ref>

== Demographics == According to the current demographic data based on the 2017 census, the Bji Gewog has a population of 3,230 living in 23 villages.{{efn|The growth in the number is due to recognising remote mountain settlements as independent villages. The bulk of the population continues to live in the farming villages in the Haa Valley.<ref name="delimitation"/>}} This appears to be a steep rise from the data reported in the 2002 Plan document. (The simplest explanation is the pastoral nomads in the region are now being counted more effectively.) The villages are grouped into five chiwogs (village blocks), viz., Taloong, Yangthang, Chumpa, Gyansa, and Chempa.<ref name="Dzongkhag"/>

The majority of the population is involved in farming and pastoralism. Wheat, potatoes and vegetables are cultivated, and the surplus is sold in markets in the Ha Town.<ref name="Dzongkhag"/>

According to the district administration, most people are well-off.<ref name="Dzongkhag"/>

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="Dzongkhag"> {{citation |title=Bji Gewog |publisher=Haa Dzongkhag Administration |url=http://www.haa.gov.bt/gewogs/bji-gewog |access-date=2 August 2022}}</ref> <ref name="delimitation">{{cite web |title=Chiwogs in Haa |publisher=Election Commission, Government of Bhutan |year=2011|url=http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/2011/finaldelimitation/Haa.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002184232/http://www.election-bhutan.org.bt/2011/finaldelimitation/Haa.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-02 |url-status=dead |page=1}}</ref> <ref name="eleventh plan">{{citation |title=Eleventh Five-Year Plan, Haa Dzongkhag |publisher=Gross National Happiness Commission, Royal Government of Bhutan |year=2013 |isbn=978-99936-55-01-5 |url=https://www.gnhc.gov.bt/en/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Eleventh-Five-Year-Plan-Haa-Dzongkhag.pdf |access-date=2022-08-03 |archive-date=2022-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120193630/https://www.gnhc.gov.bt/en/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Eleventh-Five-Year-Plan-Haa-Dzongkhag.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}

Category:Gewogs of Bhutan Category:Haa District