BEIJING: In an open warning to India, Beijing said that the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh in March will damage the country's relationship with its south Asian neighbour. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the invitation to the "Dalai Lama for activity in the disouted areas between China and India will only damage peace and stability of the border areas as well as the bilateral relationship between China and India."
China has forever claimed authority over Arunachal, calling it South Tibet. Most recently, it had furiously objected to American ambassador Richard Verma's trip to the state, warning America to not "meddle" in the border dispute with India. Verma has posted photos on his Twitter account of his trip, thanking Indian officials for their "warm hospitality", when Beijing asked the US to "stop getting involved in the China-India territorial dispute."
The Dalai Lama has been invited to Arunachal Pradesh by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, whose coalition government includes the BJP. The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader had last visited the border state in 2009. Denounced by China as a separatist for seeking independence for Tibet, had fled from the country through Arunachal Pradesh in 1959 after an unsuccessful uprising against the Chinese rule. He is expected to visit the famous Buddhist monastery of Tawang.
China claims more than 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) of territory disputed by India in the eastern sector of the Himalayas,much of which forms Arunachal Pradesh. India however, rejects the claim and says China occupies 38,000 square km (14,600 sq miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west.
