Chi warns India against allowing Dalai to visit Aruchal

Beijing, March 31: For the second time in a month, Chi on Friday warned India of “serious damage” to bilateral ties if it allows the Dalai Lama to visit Aruchal Pradesh as Beijing asked New Delhi to honour its “political pledges” on the Tibet issue. “We are seriously concerned about the news. On the eastern section of the Chi—India border, Chi’s position is clear and consistent,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media here on Friday, responding to a question on the Dalai Lama’s upcoming visit to Aruchal Pradesh. Chi claims Aruchal Pradesh as part of south Tibet.
“The Dalai clique has long been engaging in separatist activities with inglorious record. India should be very clear with the true ture of the Dalai clique,” Mr. Lu said. “But despite this India still invited the Dalai Lama to visit the region. This will have serious damage on bilateral relations,” Mr. Lu said.
The Dalai Lama will visit Aruchal Pradesh from April 4 to 13. This is the second time this month Chinese Foreign Ministry has aired its objections to the Dalai Lama’s visit to Aruchal Pradesh.
“Chi is gravely concerned over information that India has granted permission to the Dalai to visit Aruchal Pradesh,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on March 3. Chi has protested to India last year also when New Delhi cleared his visit to Aruchal Pradesh. “Such visits will have deep damage on Chi India relations. We have asked India to stick to its political pledges and not to hurt Chi—India relations. It will come down to India to make a choice,” he said. “Chi firmly opposes the Dalai Lama carrying out any activities in the relevant region and we have expressed our concerns to the Indian side. We urge India to stick to its political statements, respect the consensus and avoid doing anything that might further complicate the matter,” he said. He said India should not provide any platform for the “Dalai clique and only that way can Chi—India relation can move forward in a sound and steady way”.
“Chi and India are two major developing countries and we are close neighbors”. It is very important for the two peoples to maintain sound and steady Chi India relations. But such relationship has to be built on certain foundation,” he said. Last year, Chi also protested the visit of then American Ambassador to India Richard Verma to the area. The India—Chi border dispute covers the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control (LAC). While Chi claims Aruchal Pradesh as Southern Tibet, India asserts that the dispute covered Aksai Chin area which was occupied by Chi during the 1962 war. (Agencies)