Dalai Lama leaving Tawang after a four-day visit. (Photo : Getty Images)
On Wednesday, China restated that the recent trip of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh will bear a damaging impact on China-India relations. China also accused India of breaking its commitment on the Tibet issue.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said as an answer to a question that Beijing would conduct “further action” in defending its territorial sovereignty.
The Chinese government claims Arunachal Pradesh to be a part of its territory. Viewing the Dalai Lama as an exile, China is strictly against the Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit to the region.
Lu Kang, a foreign ministry spokesperson, gave a reaction to the statements given by the Dalai Lama and Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
In an interview, Khandu said that the Arunachal Pradesh does not share its border with China but with Tibet.
According to analysts, the chief minister’s statement was an infringement of “One China,” a principle that defines the statehood of China.
The “provocative” statements of the Dalai Lama “exceeded the scope of religious activities,” Lu said.
“What India has done is violated the solemn commitment on the Tibet-related issues, and it also has a negative impact on proper settlement of territorial disputes between the two sides through negotiations,” he added.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, “the boundary question [and] the Tibet-related questions bear on the political foundation of China-India relationship.”
Lu said that the ministry has come to an important accord on settling the boundary dispute by conducting negotiations and consultations.
“We also hope that the Indian side bears in mind the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and safeguard the political foundation of the bilateral relationship and not take any provocative action,” the foreign ministry spokesman added.
China had repeatedly warned India not to interfere with Tibet issues. The Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, along with the comments given by the region’s chief minister, has put China-India relations at the edge.
