The Dalai Lama and Indo-China tension
What was meant to be a simple spiritual visit turned into a huge political turmoil. China expressed ‘strong dissatisfaction’ at the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. But the question that arises here is why? After all, the Dalai Lama has been in India for 50 years and this is his fifth visit to the state. Is China’s insecurity a result of the growing support for the Tibetan cause in the border state? Through this photo gallery, NDTV.com takes a look at the political implications of the Dalai Lama’s visit to Tawang.
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What was meant to be a simple spiritual visit turned into a huge political turmoil. China expressed ‘strong dissatisfaction’ at the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.
But the question that arises here is why? After all, the Dalai Lama has been in India for 50 years and this is his fifth visit to the state. Is China’s insecurity a result of the growing support for the Tibetan cause in the border state? Through this photo gallery, NDTV.com takes a look at the political implications of the Dalai Lama’s visit to Tawang. (AFP Photo) -
Along with the Indian Tricolour, a string of Tibetan flags crisscrosses the Tawang monastery. While an emblem of Tibetan independence movement, the 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.
According to 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." (AFP Photo) -
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. China, in fact, blames India for keeping the Tibetan political and cultural identity alive by giving shelter to the Dalai Lama. (AFP Photo)
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"Be 21st Century Buddhists" – was the message that the Dalai Lama preached on Monday, November 9, in Tawang, with thousands gathered to see him. The message was received with gratitude by overjoyed followers.
"This young generation don't understand much, so on one level its peace, togetherness and everyone being happy. That is 21st Century Buddhism," says Urgen, an Environmental Activist in the audience.(AFP Photo) -
The politics of the Dalai Lama's visit continues to overshadow the event. On Sunday, Nov 8, the Dalai Lama said that China has no reason to insist that his trip to Arunachal Pradesh is a political one. Slamming China's claim to Tawang, he had also described it as an integral part of India.(AFP Photo)
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Hu Shisheng, a leading Chinese analyst has told the Global Times that India may make use of the Dalai Lama's trip to push for an early solution to the boundary dispute.
Although India denies the charge that it prompted the Dalai Lama's trip, or influenced its timing. "The Dalai Lama is free to travel anywhere in India. He is an honorary guest in our country," states Manmohan Singh, Indian Prime Minister.(AFP Photo) -
"Prove that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India" is what the Dalai Lama offered when asked about Chinese objections to his visit to Arunachal Pradesh. Though he is on a spiritual trip, the Tibetan leader addressed the issue of China hardening its stand against him. (NDTV Photo)
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For the people of Tawang, the visit assumed spiritual significance rather than anything political. However, the Dalai Lama surprised everyone with overt political statements on China and recounted his great escape 50 years ago through Tawang.
"The Chinese government... the communist government... it's quite sad that all my movements are interpreted by them as separatist. After the fifth round of talks with China, they acknowledged that I was not seeking separation but soon they intensified their accusations that I am a separatist," said the Dalai Lama. (NDTV Photo) -
The Tibetan spiritual leader, who visited this remote north-eastern state after a gap of six years drawing international attention in the wake of Chinese protests, also rejected Beijing's charge that he was encouraging a separatist movement-- calling it "baseless". The Nobel Laureate characterised his "emotional" visit to Tawang, which has strong ties to Tibet, as non-political.
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The Tibetan monk had come to India through Tawang in 1959. He has also visited the town in 1983, 1997 and 2003. He paid two visits in 2003 and during one of them, he had skipped Tawang to visit the western side of the state dominated by the followers of the Mahayana sect of the Buddhism.(NDTV Photo)
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Chinese sensitivities endure over India's mountainous Arunachal Pradesh state, which shares a 1,030 km unfenced border with China. India, says China, is illegally occupying 43,180 sq km of Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, China accuses India of possessing some 90,000 sq km of Chinese territory, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh. The Asian giants fought a border war in 1962 and the frontier has yet to be settled despite 13 rounds of talks on the issue.(AFP Photo)
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In fact, China also strongly protested and demonstrated dissatisfaction over Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh during electioneering. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said that China and India had "never officially settled" demarcation of their border, and China's stance on the eastern section of the China-India border was "consistent and clear-cut".