By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, July 10: The Chinese state-run English daily, Global Times, has criticized the hoisting of Tibetan national flag at the Pangong Lake during President of Tibetan government in exile (officially known as Central Tibetan Administration) Dr. Lobsang Sangay’s visit to the lake.
Amidst border dispute at Doklam, a trijunction between India, Bhutan and China, the Global Times report has questioned the timing of the flag hoisting, which has ‘sparked wide speculation’ if Indian authorities instigated the political activity of Tibetan separatists to exert pressure on China.
“Although the involvement of New Delhi remains unclear, we hope they did not send any signal of approval,” the report said, “New Delhi publicly promises not to allow any anti-China political activities by Tibetan exiles on Indian Territory. But it has long used the Tibet question as a diplomatic card in dealing with Beijing.”
It further warned New Delhi that if it is pulling the strings, ‘it will only burn itself’. The report also cautions India against playing the Tibet card and its ‘gradual loss of value’.
The flag hoisting at the lake situated near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was on the eve of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 82 Birthday. It was a part of the sangsol ceremony for the long life of the exile Tibetan spiritual leader.
President Sangay had said, “I came here today to pray for the fulfillment of the long held aspirations of the Tibetan people inside Tibet. The Tibetan people wishes to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama return to Tibet with dignity and freedom restored in Tibet.”
According to the report this is the first time a leader of CTA has hoisted the national flag in this region.
