The Dalai Lama's India visit to disputed Arunachal Pradesh has angered China, which is threatening adverse diplomatic consequences for the trip.
Arunachal Pradesh, located to northeastern India, is also claimed by China, which calls it South Tibet, according to India Today. The Dalai Lama is expected to visit a monastery in Tawang during his weekend visit, noted India Today.
It will be the Dalai Lama's sixth trip to the state since he escaped to India and claimed political asylum in 1959. He set up the Tibetan government in-exile at Dharamshala and India has not limited his movement.
"China expresses firm opposition to this and will lodge stern representations with the Indian side," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswomen Hua Chunying said in a briefing in Beijing, according to Reuters.
"We demand that India immediately cease using the Dalai Lama's mistaken behavior to damage China's interests. It will not bring any benefit to India. China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and legitimate rights."
The Dalai Lama, 81, is a Buddhist monk and Nobel Peace Prize winner,
While China has called him a dangerous separatist, India considers him a spiritual leader who has a devoted following in the region.
"His visit to this part of the country is totally religious," said the state's chief minister, Pema Khandu. "As far as the boundary issue is concerned, I have also maintained that we don't share our boundary with China, but we share our boundary with Tibet."
The Washington Post said China routinely issues accusations of
"interference" in its "internal affairs" when a country allows the Dalai Lama to speak. Mongolia was recently forced to apologize and bar him from further entry after a visit there.
India and China have squabbled over Arunachal Pradesh for 55 years, including a brief war in 1962, according the Post. Past talks between the countries have failed to resolve the border issues.
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