Ahead of Jaishankar’s visit, China says Tibet issue ‘thorn’ in relations

Tibet-related issues, including reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, are a “thorn” in India-China bilateral relations and they have become a “burden” for New Delhi, the Chinese embassy said on Sunday.

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The remarks came ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to China to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

In the last few months, India and China have initiated a number of measures to repair the bilateral ties after completing the disengagement of troops from the last of the two face-off sites in October last year.

Earlier this month, the Dalai Lama asserted that a trust of Tibetan Buddhists will have the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation.

China reacted angrily to the remarks by the Dalai Lama and said his reincarnation should be approved by the Chinese government.

In a social media post on Sunday, Chinese embassy spokesperson Yu Jing said members of the strategic and academic communities, including former officials, had made “improper remarks” regarding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama “contrary” to Indian Government’s public stance.

“They should be fully cognisant of the sensitivity of issues related to Xizang, and that the reincarnation and succession of the Dalai Lama is inherently an internal affair of China, brooking no interference of any external forces,” Yu said. China refers to Tibet as “Xizang”.

“In reality, Xizang-related issue is a thorn in China-India relations and has become a burden for India. Playing the ‘Xizang card’ will definitely end up shooting oneself in the foot,” the Chinese embassy spokesperson said.

Jaishankar is visiting China on July 14 and 15.