China is well-known for its measured approach to diplomatic language, with policymakers recognised for their calm and composed demeanour. The strategic patience of Beijing amid recurrent provocative moves by the US on the issue of Taiwan is a pertinent example.
India, being a major neighbouring state, never misses any chance to test the patience of China. Bilateral relations became more tense after the June 2020 military skirmishes in the Galwan Valley area, which led to the casualties of 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers.
The Galwan dispute remains unresolved despite numerous meetings between military commanders from either side. None of the Indian ministers of external affairs visited China after the 2020 clashes until Jaishankar arrived in Tianjin to attend the SCO event on July 15, 2025.
The decades-long atrocities in IIOJK, along with unrest across the LoC, paint a chilling picture of India’s inflexible approach.
However, this rare visit could not unfreeze the bilateral tensions. Irresponsible statements from Indian ministers and a few officials regarding the succession of the 14th Tibetan Lama stirred strong displeasure in Chinese quarters.
Tough remarks from the Chinese embassy spokesperson were reported by Al Jazeera in a story titled “China Says Tibet-Related Issue a Thorn in Relations with India.” The level of Chinese concerns can be gauged from the text of a statement posted on ‘X’ by Chinese embassy spokesperson Yu Jing, which stated, “In reality, the Xizang-related issue is a thorn in China-India relations and has become a burden on India.”
It is worth mentioning that Chinese officials refer to Tibet as ‘Xizang.’ India has been seeking leverage against China by hosting the exiled Dalai Lama since 1959. This unusual arrangement between India and the exiled Lama emerged after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. India has significantly moved beyond accommodating the Dalai Lama and continues to host the ‘Tibetan Government in Exile.’
This manoeuvre by India is equally sinister and provocative in nature. Obviously, India is willfully disregarding the sensitivity of Beijing regarding the ‘One China Principle.’ This Indian strategy resembles the US stance on the issue of Taiwan, which Beijing always underscores as a provocative violation of the ‘One China Principle.’ The strategic alliance of India with Western quarters appears extremely disturbing when viewed in the context of New Delhi’s approach to issues like the selection of the next Lama and the Galwan Valley clashes.
The participation of senior Indian ministers in the recently held celebrations of the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama clearly sent a message to China that the BJP would continue to exploit the Lama’s succession issue without seeking any sort of normalcy or peace. Exploitative interference in the internal affairs of neighbours has remained a cornerstone of Indian foreign policy. The BJP, under the watch of PM Narendra Modi, is attaining the next level of proficiency in such coercive skills. However, misplaced involvement in Tibetan affairs actually started in the Congress era.
Undeniably, India is fueling a religious and spiritual issue linked to the reincarnation of the Tibetan Lama. Differences between the Buddhist followers of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government do not grant any space for Indian interference in the internal affairs of a neighbouring sovereign state.
The obvious racial, ethno-linguistic, religious, and cultural disconnect between the Tibetan community and Indian society serves as ample evidence that New Delhi’s interference is absolutely unjustified. Such vicious policies of India toward its neighbors pose existential threats to regional peace. The recent military clash with Pakistan was nothing but a highly disturbing outcome of India’s misadventure, coupled with false claims on neighbouring countries’ territories.
New Delhi has developed an instinct to orchestrate wars through false flag operations like the Pulwama and Phalgam terrorist attacks. The decades-long atrocities in IIOJK, along with unrest across the LoC, paint a chilling picture of India’s inflexible approach. Numerous unresolved disputes with regional countries reflect the true mindset of Indian state actors and decision-making quarters.
Besides exploiting the spiritual issue of the Tibetan community for more than six decades, India, under Modi’s watch, is adding the venom of hateful politics in sports, socio-cultural issues, and above all, bilateral water-sharing accords. The unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty was labelled an ‘Act of War’ by Pakistan, and eventually, India’s jingoistic approach pushed the region to the brink of nuclear war. In this context, the bitter warning from otherwise cautious Chinese diplomatic officials to India about misplaced interferences in Tibet makes a lot of sense.
The writer is a student.