India's stance on Tibet has been overly cautious, reaffirming its recognition of Tibet as an autonomous region of China. However, this approach has exposed India to increased Chinese pressure.
Tibet has long been a crucial element in the complex relationship between India and China. Despite its significance, Tibet remains marginalised in Sino-Indian relations, casting a looming shadow over their interactions. India's stance on Tibet has been overly cautious, reaffirming its recognition of Tibet as an autonomous region of China. However, this approach has exposed India to increased Chinese pressure.
It is fair to say that the Tibetan issue and its national movement would not have gained momentum without India's tactical support. Rajiv Gandhi's visit to China in 1988, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years, reiterated India's position on recognising Tibet as part of China on the condition that Lhasa exercised full autonomy, which Beijing never honoured. Similar statements were made by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003. However, since 2014, a visible shift can be seen in India's policy on Tibet.
India's changing approach to Tibet is evident through various actions. The Indian government has managed public forums involving the Dalai Lama, such as inviting the head of the Tibetan government in exile to the swearing-in ceremony in 2014. Continuing the annual tradition established in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally extended birthday wishes on His Holiness’ 88th on 6th July. Moreover, India hosted the first global summit this year on Buddhism, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India and attended by senior Indian officials. Furthermore, India publicly recognised the Tibetan Special Frontier Force after the Galwan Valley clash, demonstrating a shift in its stance. Yet, India needs to make an explicit commitment by recognising the Central Tibetan Administration (Tibet’s government-in-exile) which ironically functions in India.
Tibet's occupation and the subsequent asylum granted to the Dalai Lama played a significant role in the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist leader, and any support for him or his followers violates its "One China" policy. The recent border conflicts in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, which China considers part of South Tibet, rekindle the importance of Tibet as India's natural neighbour and emphasize the unresolved nature of the Tibet issue in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
India needs to recentre Tibet at international forums and within its dialogue with China, highlighting the critical issues that resonate with its relationship with Tibet and China. How India proceeds will influence its relations with China, whether Tibet is viewed solely as a human rights issue or an unresolved political matter. The passing of the Tibet Policy and Support Act in 2020 by the United States, officially recognising the human rights issue in Tibet, adds to the international momentum. The exclusion of Tibet from Indian Prime Minister Modi's recent US visit again represents a missed opportunity to emphasize its enduring political and human rights infringements. China's image as a responsible peacebuilder becomes questionable when it selectively engages in external peace agreements while disregarding its internal territorial issues.
Granting asylum to the Dalai Lama has enhanced India's soft power globally and challenged China's peace-building image. Taking decisive diplomatic actions regarding Tibet can serve as a deterrent against China's vocal opposition to India's policy on Kashmir. By cooperating closely with world powers on the Tibet issue, India can strengthen its position as a credible threat to China and gain support from Western countries.
The Tibetan issue should now be central to India's foreign policy. Neglecting Tibet for the sake of bilateral relations and avoiding it is a missed opportunity. While recognising Tibet as a human rights issue is important, the international community must not sideline its political and territorial significance. Tibet, along with other territories, deserves greater attention and support from the world. It is a time for the global community to stop betraying and forgetting Tibet and take a unified stand on this critical issue. Tibet, usually referred to as the palm within China's strategic plan of the Five Fingers, holds immense geopolitical significance. As the highest plateau on Earth, it serves as a crucial buffer zone for China, impacting regional stability, territorial claims, and water security, while also influencing India-China relations and the delicate balance of power in South Asia along with southeast Asia, especially in downstream countries.
(Sagina Walyat is a constitutional and human rights lawyer practising at the Punjab and Haryana High Court)