India Confirms Dalai Lama’s Arunachal Visit Despite China’s Warnings

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India Confirms Dalai Lama’s Arunachal Visit Despite China’s Warnings

By Tenzin Samten / March 8, 2017;

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks at a conference in New Delhi, India, Feb 5, 2017
Photo: VOA

India has dismissed China’s warnings and confirmed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s a week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the most northeasterly Indian state, next month as scheduled. China considers Arunachal, which has a majority ethnic Tibetan population, to be part of China, calling it “Little Tibet”.

China labels the 81 year old Dalai Lama as a dangerous “separatist” and a threat to the country’s sovereignty. China warned India of “serious damage” on bilateral ties if India allows His Holiness to visit Arunachal.

Speaking about the issue, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that Indian Prime Minister Modi’s government has become more assertive and described the change as “behavioural change.” He added that Dalai Lama is a religious leader and there is no reason to stop him from visiting the state where his devotees are demanding his visit.

“India is fully aware of the seriousness of the Dalai Lama is

sue and the sensitivity of the China-India border question. Under such a background if India invites the Dalai Lama to visit the mentioned territory, it will cause serious damage to peace and stability of the border region and China-India relations,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang on March 3.

The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, met His Holiness in New Delhi in October and officially invited him to visit the state. Tibet’s spiritual leader’s last visit to Arunachal was in 2009.