This is the latest in a series of statements China has issued over the past week, beginning after the Dalai Lama publicly announced that his successor would be recognised solely by a trust affiliated with his office.

This is the latest in a series of statements China has issued over the past week, beginning after the Dalai Lama publicly announced that his successor would be recognised solely by a trust affiliated with his office.

The Dalai Lama during the celebration of his 90th birthday, at Tsuglagkhang, the main Dalai Lama temple, McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Escalating its rhetoric, China on Monday said it had lodged a formal protest with India over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday greetings to the 14th Dalai Lama and the presence of Indian officials at celebrations marking his 90th birthday.

The protest was confirmed by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during her regular press briefing in Beijing, where she restated Beijing’s longstanding position on the Dalai Lama and described him as a separatist.

“India needs to be fully cognizant of the sensitivity of issues related to Xizang, see clearly the anti-China and separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama, honour the commitments India has made to China on issues related to Xizang, act prudently, and stop using those issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs. China has protested to India regarding its actions,” she said.

Referring to Tibet by its official Chinese designation, Mao repeated that Beijing’s position was “consistent and clear”.

“As is widely known, the 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who has long engaged in anti-China separatist activities and seeks to separate Xizang from China under the cloak of religion,” she said.

The question at the press briefing came from a reporter affiliated with a Chinese state-run tabloid, who asked for China’s reaction to Modi’s birthday message and the attendance of Indian ministers at the official celebration organised by the Tibetan government-in-exile.

China’s protest is the latest in a series of statements issued over the past week, beginning after the Dalai Lama publicly announced that his successor would be recognised solely by a trust affiliated with his office.

On July 4, Union minister of minority affairs Kiren Rijiju had backed the proposal and asserted that “nobody else has the right to decide” on the succession besides the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader.

Ambassador Xu had first posted on that day that the next Dalai Lama must be selected through what Beijing calls the “Golden Urn lottery procedure”.

The next day, the Chinese foreign ministry weighed in with spokesperson Mao Ning, issuing a sharper response.

“India should exercise caution in its words and actions, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs with Xizang-related issues, and avoid impact on the improvement and development of the China-India relationship,” she said at a regular press briefing on July 5.

Later, Rijiju clarified that his remarks were made in a personal capacity. “I spoke as a follower and a devotee,” he said.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs also distanced itself from the remarks. “We have seen reports relating to the statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama about the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on July 5.

“Government of India does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. Government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so,” he added.

On Sunday, Modi posted a message on social media extending “warmest wishes” to the Dalai Lama on behalf of the Indian people. He described the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader as an “enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline.”

At the official birthday celebrations in McLeodganj, Rijiju and his cabinet colleague Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, were present as chief guests.

Later that night, Chinese ambassador to India Xu Feihong tweeted that the reincarnation process was strictly an internal matter of China and must take place within Tibet.

The latest episode of friction between India and China comes at a time when both countries have been talking about normalising bilateral ties following the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which formally concluded last year after four years of tension.

Senior level engagement between the two sides has increased in recent months, and Union external affairs minister S. Jaishankar is likely to be travelling in July to Beijing to take part in the SCO foreign ministers meeting.

The first group of Indian pilgrims are also permitted to undertake the Mansarovar Yatra after a hiatus since 2019. The pilgrimage had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later, owing to border tensions.

However, the brief military exchange between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April added a fresh complication, with Indian officials accusing China of providing real-time satellite intelligence to Pakistan during the hostilities.

Asked about this claim on Monday, Mao Ning said, “I’m not sure how that allegation came about. Different people may have different perspectives. What I can say is, China-Pakistan relations do not target any third party. This is China’s policy. On India-Pakistan relations, we support the two sides in properly addressing differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly keeping the region peaceful and stable.”

She noted that China’s bilateral relations with India are at a “crucial stage of improvement and development”. “We stand ready to work with India to move bilateral relations forward on a sound and steady track,” the spokesperson added.

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