China warns India over Dalai’s visit to Arunachal

As reported in local english daily 'The Assam Tribune' :

BEIJING, March 31 - China today warned India of “serious damage” to bilateral ties if it allows Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh next week and asked New Delhi to make a “choice”. In its second warning to India in a month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was seriously concerned about India’s decision to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of south Tibet. “We are seriously concerned about the news. On the eastern section of the China-India border, China’s position is clear and consistent,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media here, responding to a question on the Dalai Lama’s upcoming visit to Arunachal Pradesh. “The Dalai clique has long been engaging in separatist activities with inglorious record. India should be very clear with the true nature of the Dalai clique,” Lu said. “But despite this India still invited the Dalai Lama to visit the region. This will have serious damage on bilateral relations,” Lu said. The Dalai Lama will visit Arunachal Pradesh from April 4 to 13. This is the second time this month Chinese Foreign Ministry has aired its objections to the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. “China is gravely concerned over information that India has granted permission to the Dalai to visit Arunachal Pradesh,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang had said on March 3. China has protested to India last year also when New Delhi cleared his visit to Arunachal Pradesh. – PTI