Dalai Lama’s Tawang Visit to ‘Seriously Damage’ Ties, Says China

The state-run Global Times’ report alleged India was using Dalai Lama as ‘diplomatic leverage’ to challenge China.

Dalai Lama with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@pratibhatweets)

India is using the Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh to upset China and New Delhi should deliver on its political commitments to Beijing on Tibet-related issues, state-run Chinese media said on Wednesday.

Besides, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday India had "obstinately" allowed the Dalai Lama to visit "disputed" Arunachal Pradesh, causing "serious damage" to bilateral ties.

"India, in disregard to China's concerns obstinately arranged the Dalai Lama's visit to the disputed part of the eastern part of the China-India border, causing serious damage to China's interests and China-India relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters.

Also Read: In Bomdila, Dalai Lama Speaks of Emotional Connect with Arunanchal

Meanwhile, state-run daily Global Times quoted an unnamed Chinese analyst expressing a similar sentiment.

"The Dalai Lama's visit to the controversial area, especially Tawang, which China hopes will be returned, will affect relations between China and India," an analyst from the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told the paper on condition of anonymity.

India (is) using Dalai Lama’s visit to upset Beijing...India should deliver its political commitments to China on Tibet-related issues, including opposition to separatists.

China’s President Xi Jinping. (Photo: Reuters)

“India May have Underestimated Beijing's Resolve”

Global Times’ report went on to allege that India is using the Dalai Lama as diplomatic leverage to challenge China's "bottom line". The report also added that New Delhi may have "underestimated" Beijing's determination to protect its core interests.

"Beijing has voiced concerns over the issue, but New Delhi claimed that China shouldn't intervene in its 'internal affairs'," the article said, referring to Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju's comments on Tuesday. "This is absurd," the article said.

New Delhi may have underestimated Beijing’s determination to safeguard its core interests. Many countries have pledged not to extend invitations to the Dalai Lama. As the two largest emerging economies, China and India have great potential for cooperation.

China has, in recent days, upped its rhetoric on its claims to parts of Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls southern Tibet.

(With PTI Inputs.)