SUNDAY, JULY 07, 2024
In a rare visit, a delegation of American lawmakers visited Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala this week to meet the Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.
In a well-orchestrated convergence of mutual interests, the United States, the Tibetans in exile, and Indians with their nod to the visit came together to send a message to China. The message found its mark.
Shortly after the US delegation, comprising House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, began their engagements with Tibet’s Government-in-Exile, the Embassy of China in India warned the United States to not “send the wrong signal”.
Beijing’s reaction highlights the sensitive nature of the Tibet issue in China-US relations.
The American lawmakers’ visit to India was part of a broader effort to support Tibetan rights. They met the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, in Dharamshala. The visit aligns with Washington’s long-standing support for Tibetans and their cultural and religious practices, which have faced repression in China.
The US House of Representatives recently passed the Resolve Tibet Act, which aims to pressure China into resuming dialogue with Tibetan leaders. This dialogue has been stalled since 2010. The bill seeks a negotiated agreement on Tibet’s future, addressing aspirations related to its historical, cultural, religious and linguistic identity.
China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist. The Dalai Lama, however, seeks genuine autonomy for Tibet rather than independence. Beijing insists on approving the Dalai Lama’s successor to strengthen its control over Tibet.
The question that comes to one’s mind is about what makes US diplomats for this sudden visit to India, meeting Dalai Lama at this point of time? At the same time, India must carefully analyse the repercussions of such sudden move.
The present meeting directly involves three countries: US, Tibet and India. While physically US is very far from the epicenter, Tibet is a part of China’s main contenders; therefore, any physical clash will be between China and India. Sino–Indian border dispute is an ongoing territorial dispute over the sovereignty of two relatively large, and several smaller, separated pieces of territory between China and India which are being claimed and counter claimed. Besides India being vulnerable in the India-China Northern border, threat from the eastern border through Myanmar and the Indian Ocean cannot be ignored. At the same time, India has to broadly see the issues of Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong - from their perspectives - that combine the kind of broader view that India has to take.
Besides, direct dispute between China and India on the Tibet issue will call for direct conflict, whereas US has no physical stake but only a political one.
While it is also difficult to fathom at what level the US-China relationship will get ignited in case of Tibet issue, conflict with Taiwan is going to be a major issue in worsening the US-China relationship. In case of US getting directly involved in the China-Tibet issue, it is likely to compound Sino-China issues too.
India has also initiated a strategic response to China’s renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh by planning to rename over two dozen places in Tibet. This move comes as part of a broader effort to counteract China’s territorial claims and assert India’s own historical and geographical narratives. India aims to assert its own narratives and strengthen its position on the global stage.
It is a warning shot for China and its president Xi Jinping. India is essentially signaling to China that play-time is over. The scare of falling out of line vis-à-vis the ‘One China Policy’ is over. One-sided bullying will no longer be allowed being the norm. China can no longer rename Indian villages and expect New Delhi to sit by idly. The rules of engagement have changed.
It was about time India let China know that it too can press some of Beijing’s raw nerves. While caution is advisable, it is refreshing to see India demonstrate the ability to play the game as an equal power. Bullying tolerated beyond a point is as good as submission. As a side note, it is surprising to watch the US takes up the issue of Tibet’s autonomy so aggressively.
By allowing the US delegation to not just visit Dharamshala but also meet the Dalai Lama, the Indian government has made it clear it can also play the Tibet and Taiwan cards at a time and place of its choosing.
However, to achieve such a balancing act, India must strengthen its economy and the defence sector very powerfully. After immense provocation, if China responds with aggression, India should be able to ward off the threat.
