China warns India over Dalai Lama succession issue

New Delhi (Web Desk): China has strongly cautioned India regarding recent statements about the succession of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, stressing that the matter is an internal affair solely under Chinese jurisdiction. Beijing warned that any Indian interference could further strain bilateral ties between the two nations.

In a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, officials said:

"The reincarnation and succession of the Dalai Lama fall entirely within China’s sovereign domain. Any form of Indian involvement will be considered a violation of China’s territorial integrity."
This statement comes ahead of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to China, where he is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. The visit will mark the first high-level engagement between the two countries since the deadly border clashes in 2020.

The recent celebrations of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday in India, which included participation by Indian ministers, have further aggravated Beijing.

A Chinese diplomat in New Delhi also warned:

"Tibet is a highly sensitive internal issue. India’s use of the Dalai Lama card is damaging its own international standing."