India must act to preserve Tibetan autonomy and culture, or risk letting China snuff it out
'The reincarnation will most likely happen in India,' said Claude Arpi, author of several books on Tibet. 'Buddhism emerged in India before reaching Tibet. There are about a million Buddhists in India. There is also the issue of protecting the child who will be the chosen successor. I don't think any other country will be a suitable place for the succession.' Tibetans learnt a bitter lesson when a 6-yr-old boy anointed by the dalai lama as the 11th panchen lama - second only to the former in spiritual authority - suddenly vanished in 1995 from Lhari county in Tibet shortly after the announcement. Chinese authorities immediately replaced him with their nominee - an important reason why the dalai lama has said that his reincarnation would be born in the 'free world'.Speaking on Wednesday, the dalai lama has made it clear that he will not be the last leader of the movement to preserve and promote Tibetan autonomy and culture amid aggressive suppression. He also made it clear that his successor will be chosen by monks in a trust created by him, while rejecting China's claim that Beijing is the sole appointing authority.Though India has refused to overtly play the 'Tibet card', it is a fact that the presence of the dalai lama and so many other Tibetans has helped raise India's profile among supporters of human rights across the world and as a soft power. The question is whether it would actively support the Tibetan leader's quest to preserve the tradition of succession, or be a silent spectator.
It would have been best if Narendra Modi visited Dharamshala to greet the dalai lama on Sunday. But since he will be attending the BRICS meet in Rio on June 6-7, he may consider sending the home minister. Kiren Rijiju, a Buddhist from Arunachal Pradesh, is expected to attend. But a few more representatives of GoI would help send out a powerful signal. If the 'Tibet card' is to be played after decades of reluctance, it must be done in the most visible fashion.For decades, India has disallowed any form of anti-China demonstration by Tibetan exiles. In 2008, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao expressed appreciation to Manmohan Singh after Delhi Police detained Tibetan demonstrators during his visit.China has not just provided sophisticated military hardware to Pakistan, but also condoned cross-border terrorism. Beijing opened a new front by attacking the Galwan Valley in Ladakh in June 2020. It's now encouraging anti-India plans in Bangladesh.Rijiju has taken the first step by stating on Thursday that China has no business appointing the next dalai lama. 'This is not about politics - it's about religious belief,' he said ahead of his Dharamshala visit. 'No one has the right to interfere or decide who the successor of his holiness the dalai lama will be. Only he or the institution has the authority to make that decision.'Tibetan Buddhists across the world expect greater support from New Delhi. 'Reincarnation of the dalai lama, the panchen lama and other great Buddhist figures must be chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn, and approved by the central government,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning had said earlier this week. China is determined to place a lackey as a successor. India has an opportunity to reaffirm the values that prompted Jawaharlal Nehru to provide space for settling Tibetan refugees fleeing from China-annexed Tibet in 1950-51.Many Americans hope the reincarnation would take place in the US, which is best suited to handle Beijing's pressures. This is one of the reasons why the Biden administration got US Congress to pass the Resolve Tibet Act in 2024. The Act asserts that Chinese officials are 'historically inaccurate in claiming that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times'. It also says the US would encourage a negotiated settlement between China and the dalai lama's representatives.But few people expect Trump, who is in the process of finalising a trade deal with China, to implement the Act, or cause political discomfiture to Chinese leaders at this stage.Speaking at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2008, the dalai lama said that Buddhism was introduced in Tibet by 'a great philosopher and logician, Shantarakshita, from India' in the 8th c. It is for India to preserve Tibetan Buddhism from possible decay if the Chinese have their way. In fact, not acting can send a signal to Beijing that India is still 'careful' about irritating China's leaders. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Can this cola maker get back bubble valuation pricked by Ambani?
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- Business Standard
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Mint
an hour ago
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It has also turned to ratcheting up tensions in the South China Sea, where it has made military claims to much of the waterway. "Politically we have to tread carefully between the two superpowers," said Pavida Pananond, professor of International Business at Thammasat University in Thailand. "China is a very important economic power, not just as an importer of goods but a source of investment and destination for exports." Southeast Asian countries have taken their own steps to tighten monitoring and enforcement of transshipment in recent weeks, providing some insight into what they might agree to in their own trade pacts with Washington. In Thailand, where Trump has threatened 36% tariffs, the government has estimated that its actions to closely scrutinise exports for transshipment could reduce its exports to the United States by $15 billion, equivalent to one-third of Thailand's trade surplus with Washington in 2024. It has also promised to look more closely at foreign investments in areas like electric vehicles where Chinese companies have invested a lot of money to bring their own suppliers into Thailand. Authorities in Malaysia and Indonesia have tightened export rules to ensure that shipments to the United States are accurately documented. Both countries also centralized the authority to issue certificates for exports. Even before any trade deals are hammered out, the Trump administration is already reshaping how the region views China. "The idea is to squeeze China out," said Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation, an organisation that focuses on trade. But for countries like Vietnam, going along with what the United States wants is geopolitically risky. "It's a gamble all around to see how the U.S., China and companies in your country will respond," Elms said.
