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The nations along the Sino-Indian border are used by both countries either as pawns or neutral zones. The Nepal situation seems close to the Sikkim situation. Depending on whose version, Sikkim ruler faced social breakdown and internal civil war. Some believed the situation was instigated by India to force the ruler to accept Indian rule or face street justice from the rebels (allegedly supported by India). Others say it was a natural internal strife and India took advantage of it to enter and later annex Sikkim. Nepal Maoist were supported by Indian Communists while the Indian government stood idly by and did nothing??!!! How do we know if the Maoist movement was used by India to destabilize Nepal, so it will serve as a strategic pretext or strategic pressure to force the king to allow the entry of Indian forces so the rebels (who served their purposes) will be destroyed and Nepal is firmly under Indian control? I think this is Act One is a long fubuki dance between China, and India. I think India will occupy Nepal, destroy the rebels and refuse to leave. China will capitalize on the Nepalese resentment of Indian occupation and Act Two of the play will begin. In the meantime, if Nepal falls to Indian control, that leaves only Bhutan as the remaining independent nation along the Sino-Indian border. The only good news for the US is this situation will destroy the attempts of China and India to cooperate economically. They have been trying to open their borders for trade in the last six months. We want India as an ally, not a third party who can play the China card against us or the US card against China, thus reaping rewards from both sides.

http://fuchs-online.com/ntpsc/subject/sikkim/geo/sikkim.htm

Sikkim was a hereditary monarchy, ruled by a chogyal (maharaja). The last such ruler was Palden Thondup Namgyal (1923-82), who succeeded to the throne in 1963. Under a treaty with India in 1950, Sikkim received full internal autonomy. Political unrest in the early 1970s, however, caused the chogyal to request Indian troops to restore order in April 1973. New Delhi sent troops and a permanent chief administrator for the protectorate. A month later, the chogyal, leaders of the political opposition, and India signed an agreement providing Sikkim with more democratic government and guaranteeing protection for minority groups.

Unrest continued, however, and by referendum the monarchy was ended in 1975 and Sikkim became an Indian state.

Sikkim (sík´ím), state (1981 pop. 315,682), 2,745 sq mi (7,110 sq km), NE India, bordered by Nepal (W); the Tibet region of China (N); and Bhutan (E). The capital and only town is Gangtok. Located in the E HIMALAYAS, most of Sikkim is mountainous. Subsistence agriculture dominates the economy, rice, corn, and millet being the principal crops. Copper is mined, and cotton weaving is an important local craft. The people are predominantly of Nepalese extraction; Buddhism is the state religion, but the majority of the population is Hindu. Tibetans began to settle in Sikkim in the 16th cent., and in 1642 a Tibetan king started a hereditary line of Sikkimese rulers that lasted until 1975. The territory was a British protectorate from 1890 to 1947.

In 1950 India assumed responsibility for Sikkim's defense, foreign relations, and communications, and Indian aid helped Sikkim overcome its long isolation from the outside world. In 1975 the Sikkimese voted to abolish the monarchy and became the 22d state of the Indian Union.