The Chinese embassy in New Delhi has expressed that the succession of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is a “thorn” in China-India relations. This statement comes ahead of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to China on July 15, marking one of the highest-level meetings between the two nations since the deadly border clashes in 2020.
According to Yu Jing, a Chinese embassy spokesperson, “In reality, [the] Xizang-related issue is a thorn in China-India relations and has become a burden for India.” Yu emphasized that the reincarnation and succession of the Dalai Lama is an internal affair of China, and some Indian officials’ remarks on the matter are considered “improper.” “As professionals in foreign affairs, they should be fully cognizant of the sensitivity of issues related to Xizang,” Yu added.
The tension surrounding the Dalai Lama’s succession is rooted in the differing views of China and Tibetans. While China asserts that the succession should be approved by its leaders, Tibetans believe that the soul of any senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated after his death, and only the spiritual leader and his office have the authority to decide on his reincarnation. Indian Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, a practicing Buddhist, aligns with the latter view, stating that “only the spiritual leader and his office have the authority to decide on his reincarnation.”
India’s Foreign Ministry has maintained a neutral stance on matters concerning faith and religion, with a spokesperson saying on July 4 that “New Delhi does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion.”
Despite this, India’s history of hosting the Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile in the country since 1959, gives New Delhi leverage against China. India is also home to around 70,000 Tibetans and a Tibetan government-in-exile.
The strained relations between China and India are not limited to the Dalai Lama’s succession. The two nations have a longstanding border dispute, which escalated into deadly clashes in 2020, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. While diplomatic talks have resumed, the trust deficit and differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) continue to pose challenges.
In recent years, China and India have made efforts to stabilize their relations, including agreements on patrolling arrangements along the LAC and the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. However, the complex dynamics of their bilateral ties are influenced by regional and global factors, with both nations vying for influence in Asia and beyond.