‘Tibet is part of China’, India tells Beijing to mend ties

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, April 15: New Delhi reverses from assertive to appeasement policy towards China on Tibet after defying Chinese objections over His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

From confronting China during the recent historic visit of the Tibetan spiritual leader to the northeastern state, India took a U-turn and reasserted its long-held position of Tibet being part of China in a bit to mend ties with Beijing.

Despite Beijing’s call on India to cancel the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh or risk serious repercussions to their bilateral ties, Indian Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju recently hinted towards a behavioral change and claimed New Delhi has become more assertive in their dealings with China.

The visit went ahead despite China’s displeasure and objection. India received much appreciation for its assertive stance that signaled towards a change in Indian policy towards China.

However, it didn’t take New Delhi long to reverse its policy from assertion to appeasing the communist neighbor.

Yesterday, India reassured Beijing that there is no change in its position on Tibet being part of China and maintained that it will continue to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to resolve the boundary issue, timesofindia.com reported.

While responding to queries whether the visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh signals a change in India’s policy on Tibet or on the boundary negotiation issue, India’s External affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, “Let me make it absolutely clear that there is no change whatsoever in the Government of India’s policy towards the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.”

“Similarly, our approach to seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question remains unchanged,” he added.