By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, MAR. 23: The much anticipated trip by exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama to India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh is attracting political exchanges from both the Indian as well as Chinese leadership ever since it was made public last year.
The 82 year old Tibetan leader will embark on a trip to Arunachal Pradesh beginning next month after he accepted an official invitation by the Chief Minister Pema Khandu who met him along with his cabinet in New Delhi on Oct.9 last year.
An op-ed in the Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times stated India is overestimating the influence of the Dalai Lama in determining political and diplomatic influence in the Sino-India relationship.
The piece read, “Making an issue of the Dalai Lama could serve as a diplomatic tool to deal with China’s growing economic and political influence in South Asia. However, they overestimate the political value of the Dalai Lama and his group while miscalculating China’s determination to safeguard its core interests.”
On the Indian side though, the issue was down played. Former Indian diplomat and Congress party leader Shashi Tharoor said that China has no say in where India chooses to invite a respected guest. “If we want to invite a major Buddhist leader to a conference, then it’s our privilege. We are not recognizing the Dalai Lama as a political leader, but we do recognize him as a spiritual leader. So, China’s stand is irrelevant,” the politician said.
On Monday, China objected to the Tibetan leader’s participation in the Indian government sponsored religious event. A Chinese spokesperson said it is “dissatisfied’ and “strongly opposed” to the presence of the Tibetan leader who they consider a “separatist”.
The Dalai lama is also scheduled to give lectures in Assam where he will inaugurate his foremost memoir, ‘My land and my people’ which has been translated into Assamese, following which he will go to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh for the fifth time and give teachings as per the request of the predominantly Buddhist majority there, in April, 2017.
The Dalai Lama now in his 57th year as a refugee in India has devolved political authority voluntarily and steered the exile Tibetan set up to an elected and democratic establishment that is functioning and based in the virtual Tibetan exile capital of Dharamshala in North India.
Noted India – China defence analyst Claude Arpi wrote in an article published today that China often double-speaks. Claude writes that Beijing planted a controversy in the Indian media by citing Dai Bingguo former Special Representative for the border negotiations with India for nearly a decade in an article published in the state media. Dai had indicated that Beijing might be ready to cede territories elsewhere along the border if India cedes Tawang.
However, Claude argues that the article does not mention that it is the same Dai, who drafted the agreement between India and China ‘On the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question’ in 2005 where by both sides agreed to safeguard due interests of their settled populations in the border areas.’
