New Delhi (Sputnik) — Dalai Lama has been a bone of contention between India and China and his move to attend a function in Tawang town in Arunachal Pradesh next Spring has produced a volley of angry statements from the Chinese Foreign Office. It has also led to an ongoing border standoff between the two countries.
But China has been particularly sensitive to the actions of the Dalai Lama who commands a large following in Arunachal Pradesh. The recent India-China border standoff in the Ladakh region could be a mark of protest by the Chinese side to the Dalai Lama’s plans to visit Tawang.
China has laid claims to the state of Arunachal Pradesh of which Tawang is a part. In the past it has expressed its ire by border standoffs.
India has brushed aside Chinese objections, more so because it will be the Dalai Lama’s seventh visit to Tawang.
“Dalai Lama is a revered leader and an honored guest of India. He can go anywhere in India. We see nothing wrong in his visit to Tawang,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told media.
China also objected last week to US Ambassador to India Richard Verma’s visit to Tawang.
“Through the visits of US Ambassador Richard Verma and the Dalai Lama India is trying to show that it can rattle China also. India is displeased with the Chinese block on its NSG membership bid as also its relationship with Pakistan. India uses Dalai Lama to keep China on its toes,” Savita Pandey, Professor, South Asian Studies in the Jawaharlal Nehru University told Sputnik.
