Tibet should be core issue for India: Sangay

Washington, November 16

Tibet should be one of the core issues for India as China is trying to “influence” its neighbours, Lobsang Sangay, the head of the Tibetan government in exile has said.

China insists Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries, but many Tibetans say they were essentially independent for most of that time. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 amid an abortive uprising against the Chinese rule in his Himalayan homeland.

Sangay, who is currently here, has met a number of senior US administration officials, Congressmen and senators and members of the think-tank community like the Hudson Institute.

Explaining his quest for India making “Tibet a core issue”, Harvard-educated Sangay said that after the occupation of Tibet, the People’s Liberation Army has now moved near the border of India.

“Now they are influencing all of India’s neighbours, from Pakistan, to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. It is a reality now,” he said in an interview.

India and Tibet have had historically, cultural and civilisational ties for hundreds of years, he said, adding Tibet is the source of water for India and South Asia.

“For these reasons, Tibet is very important for not just India, for whole of South Asia and ASEAN countries too. Hence, Tibet should be one of the core issues for India,” Sangay said.

“China has already said Tibet is one of the core issues. So, India should also table Tibet as one of the core issues and address this issue with Tibetan people in mind,” he said.

Responding to a question, Sangay said that the people of Tibet are following the middle way approach by seeking “genuine autonomy within the framework of the Chinese constitution”. PTI