Furious China vows tough steps after Arunachal visit
China warned on Wednesday that it will take “necessary measures” to defend its territorial sovereignty and interests after India “obstinately” allowed the Dalai Lama to visit the “disputed” parts of the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh causing “serious damage” to the bilateral ties.
China also lodged a protest with India’s Ambassador in Beijing Vijay Gokhale over the Dalai Lama’s visit.
“India in disregard to China’s concerns obstinately arranged the Dalai Lama’s visit to the disputed part of the eastern part of China-india border, causing serious damage to China’s interests and China-india relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters.
China firmly opposes this move, she asserted.
“China’s stand on the eastern part of the borders is consistent and clear. India is keenly aware of the role played by the 14th Dalai Lama.
“Arranging his visit to those sensitive and disputed areas not only runs counter to the Indian side’s commitment to the issues related to Tibet but also escalates disputes over the border area,” she said. Hua stated that it goes against the momentum of the sound growth of bilateral relations and will not benefit India in anyway.
The 81-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader reached Bomdila in West Kameng district on Tuesday, starting his nine-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh.
China claims parts of Arunachal Pradesh as southern Tibet and had previously warned that if India allowed the visit of the Dalai Lama, whom it calls an “anti-china separatist”, it would cause “serious damage” to ties.
China is sensitive to the Dalai Lama’s visit to Tawang region in Arunachal which happens to be the birthplace in 1683 of the sixth Dalai Lama and is at the centre of Tibetan Buddhism.
On Tuesday, Minister of Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said India never interfered in Beijing’s affairs, has respected the “One China” policy, and thus China should not interfere in India’s internal affairs or object to the Dalai Lama’s visit.
“There is no political angle behind his holiness’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. It is completely religious.”
Separately, the External Affairs Ministry has said that no “artificial controversy” should be created about the visit.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson rejected Rijiju’s comments, saying “China upholds the policy of not interfering with other countries internal affairs. This is unquestionable.”
“But in disregard to China’s concerns India arranged the visit of Dalai Lama to the disputed areas. This issue goes beyond internal affairs,” she said.
Amid protests by Beijing against his scheduled visit to Tawang, the Dalai Lama on Wednesday said India has never used him against China.
“India has never used me against China. I am a messenger of the ancient Indian thought and I talk about ahimsa, peace, harmony and secular ethics wherever I go,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said while talking to the media here.