It was outrage caused by Beijing’s demands that New Delhi force the cancellation of a four-day Buddhist religious congregation beginning here Sunday, where the Dalai Lama is scheduled to speak, that prompted India to call off talks with China on the setting up of a joint boundary mechanism.
Unhappy with the invitation extended to the Dalai Lama, Beijing first demanded that the Dalai Lama should not be allowed to speak there. It was, however, politely and firmly told by the ministry of external affairs that it has nothing to do with the conference and so could not prevent the Tibetan leader from speaking. Thereupon, the Chinese demanded that the conference itself be cancelled. New Delhi responded by saying that it is a religious conference about which it can do nothing. Beijing then threatened to call off the talks upon which New Delhi said, “so be it”.
The row over the Dalai Lama is the latest irritant in Sino-Indian ties in recent months with Beijing’s claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea being the other one. As Beijing continues to flex its muscles as far as the South China Sea is concerned, other countries in the region have questioned Chinese claims over it. It’s been unhappy with India too as ONGC Videsh conducts oil exploration in the disputed sea, going so far as to warn it indirectly to keep off it.
The Chinese insistence that the MEA step in perhaps came as the ministry’s public diplomacy (PD) division is extending support to a Buddhist Heritage Festival to be held from November 24 to 29 and a coffee-table book titled Sharnam Gacchami. The book is to be released by the Dalai Lama and, as per the Asoka Mission (a New Delhi-based Buddhist institution), is supported by the PD division. However, the congregation itself has no support from the PD division.