Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit will 'gravely harm' ties, says Chinese media

IANS  |  Beijing 

Angry over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Chinese state-run on Wednesday said New Delhi's inviting the Tibetan spiritual leader to the "sensitive region" would "gravely damage" India-relations.

The Global Times, in a belligerent editorial, also said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "unlike his predecessors" was taking a different stance on the issue by "raising public engagements with the monk and challenging Beijing's bottom line" on Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing considers disputed and a part of south Tibet.

The editorial comes as the entered on Tuesday by road, en-route to Tawang where he is to attend an important Buddhist event.

On Tuesday as he entered Bomdila, in Arunachal Pradesh, the was received by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, and members of the Tibetan community.

The Global Times said: "The was received by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in December, and invited by Pema Khandu, "chief minister" of "Arunachal Pradesh," to Tawang this month. "It's a behavioral change you are seeing. is more assertive," Rijiju openly said in an interview with Reuters earlier.

"Amid Beijing-conflicts, the is now openly used by as a diplomatic tool to win more leverage," it commented.

According to the Global Times, is trying to play the Tibet card against as "is dissatisfied with Beijing's stance over its membership bid to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and its request to name Masood Azhar, head of Pakistani militant group, to a UN Security Council blacklist".

It says that "has never thought of making trouble for India, and is handling these issues in accordance with international practices and UN regulations".

It said that is also exploring the option of linking the strategic border district of Tawang with a railway network, and termed it "another provocation against Beijing".

has also invited a "parliamentary" delegation from Taiwan in February.

It went on to say that "may have underestimated Beijing's determination to safeguard its core interests".

"Many countries have pledged not to extend invitations to the As the two largest emerging economies, and have great potential for cooperation. should overcome its suspicions against "

It ended with a dire warning, "doesn't allow to free ride on its economic growth while jeopardizing Beijing's core interests".

The editorial comes a day after the Chinese Foreign Ministry termed the as "an anti-separatist" and also said the Chinese government is "resolutely opposed to any country's support and facilitation" for him and his "group's anti-separatist activities" - without directly alluding to

On Tuesday, said that no political motive should be attributed to the Dalai Lama's visit to and asked not to interfere in its affairs.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who is from Arunachal Pradesh, said: "has always been non-interfering in the neighbours' internal affairs in our approach. In the same manner, we expect the same from our neighbours."

"When Dalai Lamaji is in Arunachal Pradesh, he will be confined only to religious matters. He is not there to make any political statement and he is not there with any political motive," he said.

Rijiju, who is scheduled to go to on Wednesday to meet the Dalai Lama, said has never questioned China's sovereignty and "has respectfully adhered to the one-policy".

"So we expect that also should not interfere in our internal matters," he stated.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the has visited the state six times earlier and no "additional colour" should be given to his visit starting from April 5.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang last week said was firmly opposed to any visit by the to the disputed border region.

"is gravely concerned about this. Our stance on the eastern part of the China-border is clear and consistent," Lu said.

In another article in Global Times, a Chinese expert has said that the Dalai Lama's visit to the disputed zone "will hurt Sino-Indian ties".

"The Dalai's visit to Tawang, which hopes will be returned, will affect relations between and India," an expert from the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times on Tuesday.

--IANS

py/rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit will 'gravely harm' ties, says Chinese media

Angry over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Chinese state-run media on Wednesday said New Delhi's inviting the Tibetan spiritual leader to the "sensitive region" would "gravely damage" India-China relations.

Angry over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Chinese state-run on Wednesday said New Delhi's inviting the Tibetan spiritual leader to the "sensitive region" would "gravely damage" India-relations.

The Global Times, in a belligerent editorial, also said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "unlike his predecessors" was taking a different stance on the issue by "raising public engagements with the monk and challenging Beijing's bottom line" on Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing considers disputed and a part of south Tibet.

The editorial comes as the entered on Tuesday by road, en-route to Tawang where he is to attend an important Buddhist event.

On Tuesday as he entered Bomdila, in Arunachal Pradesh, the was received by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, and members of the Tibetan community.

The Global Times said: "The was received by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in December, and invited by Pema Khandu, "chief minister" of "Arunachal Pradesh," to Tawang this month. "It's a behavioral change you are seeing. is more assertive," Rijiju openly said in an interview with Reuters earlier.

"Amid Beijing-conflicts, the is now openly used by as a diplomatic tool to win more leverage," it commented.

According to the Global Times, is trying to play the Tibet card against as "is dissatisfied with Beijing's stance over its membership bid to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and its request to name Masood Azhar, head of Pakistani militant group, to a UN Security Council blacklist".

It says that "has never thought of making trouble for India, and is handling these issues in accordance with international practices and UN regulations".

It said that is also exploring the option of linking the strategic border district of Tawang with a railway network, and termed it "another provocation against Beijing".

has also invited a "parliamentary" delegation from Taiwan in February.

It went on to say that "may have underestimated Beijing's determination to safeguard its core interests".

"Many countries have pledged not to extend invitations to the As the two largest emerging economies, and have great potential for cooperation. should overcome its suspicions against "

It ended with a dire warning, "doesn't allow to free ride on its economic growth while jeopardizing Beijing's core interests".

The editorial comes a day after the Chinese Foreign Ministry termed the as "an anti-separatist" and also said the Chinese government is "resolutely opposed to any country's support and facilitation" for him and his "group's anti-separatist activities" - without directly alluding to

On Tuesday, said that no political motive should be attributed to the Dalai Lama's visit to and asked not to interfere in its affairs.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who is from Arunachal Pradesh, said: "has always been non-interfering in the neighbours' internal affairs in our approach. In the same manner, we expect the same from our neighbours."

"When Dalai Lamaji is in Arunachal Pradesh, he will be confined only to religious matters. He is not there to make any political statement and he is not there with any political motive," he said.

Rijiju, who is scheduled to go to on Wednesday to meet the Dalai Lama, said has never questioned China's sovereignty and "has respectfully adhered to the one-policy".

"So we expect that also should not interfere in our internal matters," he stated.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the has visited the state six times earlier and no "additional colour" should be given to his visit starting from April 5.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang last week said was firmly opposed to any visit by the to the disputed border region.

"is gravely concerned about this. Our stance on the eastern part of the China-border is clear and consistent," Lu said.

In another article in Global Times, a Chinese expert has said that the Dalai Lama's visit to the disputed zone "will hurt Sino-Indian ties".

"The Dalai's visit to Tawang, which hopes will be returned, will affect relations between and India," an expert from the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times on Tuesday.

--IANS

py/rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

image
Business Standard
177 22