India is damaging our interests: China

BEIJING: China said India was fuelling tensions and damaging its interests by allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh, reported foreign media.

“I can confirm (that) China has lodged protests in Beijing and Delhi,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing.

The protest was lodged in Beijing with Indian ambassador to China Vijay Gokhale.

In Delhi, it was done with the competent officials of the Ministry of External Affairs, Hua said.

Asked whether Beijing views India’s permission to the 81-year-old leader to visit Arunachal Pradesh amounted to questioning the ‘One China’ policy, Hua said, “I want to re-emphasise that on issues concerning China’s major concern and core interests, territorial and sovereignty, our position is consistent.”

“By inviting and approving the Dalai Lama to (visit) disputed areas, India has damaged our interests and the India-China relationship, and fuelled tensions,” she said.

“We oppose the visit to relevant areas and attempts by relevant countries to arrange a platform for the Dalai Lama to conduct anti-China activities. We urge the relevant country to stop such erroneous actions and stop undermining Chinese interests,” she said.

The Dalai Lama is currently on a nine-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

On the other hand, Chinese media, amid the raging row over the Dalai Lama’s Arunachal Pradesh visit, warned India that China, with its superior military, could engage in a “geopolitical game” as India’s “turbulent northern state” borders the country, a veiled reference to Kashmir.