PERIOD OF SELF-ISOLATION

The period of self-isolation that Bhutan imposed on itself, lasted from the late      

18th century to as late as 1961. At the end of the 18th century it became              

increasingly clear that self-isolation was necessary for Bhutan to survive as an      

independent political entity. Until the late 1700s, although Bhutan did have many   

clashes with Tibet, there were no major threats from Tibet in the north or            

  British India(at the time). But in the late 1700s, Chinese influence was growing      

in Tibet.The fact that there was a joint Chinese and Tibetan attempt to invade      

Nepal in 1792-1793, reinforced the threat from the north. At the sametime the     

influence of the British East India Company was growing rapidly in north-eastern  

India. Therefore with the threat of the growing Chinese influence in the North     

and that of the British in the south, Bhutan adopted a policy of self-isolation.       

During this period, there were very few visitors from any Foreign countries, so

any Foreign Relations were limited to informal trading between the citizens of        

neighbouring places.                                                                                             

In the 1960s again, circumstances led to the embracing of relations with the

rest of the world. In the 1950s with the Chinese taking over Tibet, Bhutan              

sought for recognition as a sovereign nation, from the international community.        

In 1961, Bhutan opened itself up to the rest of the world again. In that year           

Bhutan joined the Colombo Plan, this was the first official delegation from Bhutan    

to an international gathering. After 1961, followed many other foreign policies        

that gained for Bhutan, the recognition as an independent sovereing nation and  also  

the benefits of aid from different countreis such as India, Australia, Switzerland   

and New Zealand (throughout the 1960s).