Dalai Lama angers China with visit to disputed area

News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
From the blogs

More than half of Afghanistan’s families live in extreme poverty

Leila is watching her baby intently, as his mouth moves trying to swallow the small blob of yellow p...

Time for a new approach to alcohol

Ambulances were called and three drunk teenagers were brought to my care. One was so drunk we had to...

Bahrain: One year on

I am used to endless lies and criticism from the BNP and its favourite blogster, as well as Islamist...

Paul Volcker stands tall against the banking lobby

Why is Europe, which likes to present itself as an opponent of speculative "Anglo-Saxon" finance, li...

Suggested Topics

Thousands of Buddhist monks in maroon robes joined secular supporters of the Dalai Lama yesterday to welcome the Tibetan spiritual leader as he arrived in the Himalayas for a four-day visit that is testing already strained relations between India and China.

Arriving by helicopter, the religious leader touched down in the small town of Tawang, situated in the north-east of India and the location of a 400-year-old monastery where he briefly stayed 50 years ago when he fled China.

The road to Tawang, set amid steep craggy mountains, was lined with well-wishers who had erected Buddhist paintings, painted buildings and washed the thoroughfare to greet the Dalai Lama.

"He is our god," a young woman called Choeden, who was putting up flags bearing writing from Tibetan scriptures, told the Associated Press. "He has come back to bless us all. China may or may not recognise him but that is not important for us. Can the Chinese remove him from our hearts?"

China, which claims almost all of the state of Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory, has condemned the visit. Yet while India last year refused the Dalai Lama permission to visit the state, this year, amid increasingly tense relations with China, it allowed him to make the trip. Foreign journalists, however, were not permitted to travel to the region.

The state of Arunachal Pradesh was among several Himalayan territories fought over by China and India in a brief war in 1962. Repeated meetings have failed to resolve the territorial disputes and considerable distrust remains between the regional rivals. China even condemns visits by senior Indian politicians to the state, so it considers the arrival of a man it accuses of trying to break up its country particularly provocative.

Yesterday the Tibetan leader, who will open a hospital and hold prayer sessions, said he was not surprised by the Chinese criticism of his visit. "It is quite usual for China to step up the campaign against me wherever I go," he said. "My visit here is non-political."

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Picture preview: Portrait of London

Portrait of London

Picture preview
No secularism please, we're British

No secularism please, we're British

Arguments about the role of religion in national life have recently acquired a new urgency
Harold Tillman: 'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'

Harold Tillman interview

'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'
Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Working as a jail torturer ruined my life

Meet the former soldier who has joined the political prisoners he tortured in Turkey's Mamak prison by suing the generals who led a regime of terror
The local high street jet shop

The local high street jet shop

Got a spare $50m and can't stand the queues at Heathrow? Get yourself down to London's first private plane dealership
Do you like your doctor? It could be the death of you

Do you like your doctor?

It could be the death of you...
The mysterious affair of how Agatha Christie is teaching foreigners English

How Agatha Christie is teaching foreigners English

Twenty of the author's novels have been adapted and presented with learning notes and a CD
Six Grammys, five years off: Adele puts love before career

Six Grammys, five years off

Adele puts love before career
The 10 Best binoculars

The 10 Best binoculars

From no-frills to bins with digital cameras
Milan for £300

Milan for £300?

A cultural family holiday - on a budget - to Italy's most stylish city
'Black-hole' resorts: Turn up, tune out, log off

'Black-hole' resorts

Turn up, tune out, log off
New Arsenal face an old question of credibility in San Siro

New Arsenal face an old question of credibility in San Siro

Remodelled since winning in Milan in 2008, for all their consistency – and prize-money – Wenger's side are yet to claim a European title
James Lawton: This prodigal son deserves no forgiveness

James Lawton: This prodigal son deserves no forgiveness

City would be putting their desire to win title ahead of morals if Tevez plays for them
Mark Cavendish: Is Olympic gold at end of the rainbow?

Mark Cavendish interview

Is Olympic gold at end of the rainbow?
Apple admits it has a human rights problem

Apple admits it has a human rights problem

After years of complaints and workers' suicides in China the technology giant faces up to the human cost of its gadgets