Tawang:
Why is China picking on India about The Dalai Lama's visit to Aruanchal Pradesh? After all he's been in India for fifty years now and this is his fifth visit to the state. Is it because of a growing support for the Tibetan cause in the border state?
Along with the Indian Tricolour, a string of Tibetan flags crisscrosses the Tawang monastery. While it is an emblem of Tibetan independence movement, the snow lion Tibetan flag is also a symbol of separatism for the People's Republic of China and it's banned in that country.
While The Dalai Lama's visit was meant to be religious, the flags certainly convey a more political message.
Says a Chombay youth activist, "Since he is our religious and spiritual head we have our sympathies for sure because the border that Tibet shares with India is Arunachal Pradesh and particularly Tawang. India should support the cause of Tibet."
China has not been able to assimilate Tibet and blames India for its failure because by giving the Dalai Lama shelter, India has kept the Tibetan political and cultural identity alive.
"The issue is of the well-being of 6 million Tibetan people," says the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama continues to be the symbol of peaceful Tibetan resistance and aspiration and there's overwhelming support for the Tibetan cause in Arunachal Pradesh, something that makes China extremely uncomfortable.