Our policy towards Tibet remains unchanged: India rebuffs China's warning

With Beijing issuing a stern warning that the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh will have "negative impact" on the settlement of the border dispute, India on Friday categorically stated that its policy towards Tibet and border issue with China remains unchanged.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, " Let me make it absolutely clear that there is no change whatsoever in the Government of India's policy towards the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China."

""Similarly, our approach to seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question remains unchanged," he added.

His response came to a query whether the visit of Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh on April 4 signalled a change in India's policy on Tibet or on the boundary negotiation with China.

Furious over India allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh despite opposition, Beijing on Wednesday warned that this action will have a "negative impact" on bilateral relations between the two sides.

China is opposed to the Dalai Lama, whom it regard as a dangerous separatist, visiting Arunachal Pradesh, particularly Tawang, as it considers the region as Southern Tibet.

Meanwhile, India has repeatedly said that no political colour should be attributed to the Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit, which it described as religious and spiritual.