China Says Tibet Issues Are “Major Thorn” in Relations With India

China is saying that tensions over Tibet remain a major obstruction in its diplomatic relations with India.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Pengyu accused India of allowing visits of senior Tibetan figures, which Beijing considers to be political provocations. Liu outlined that these actions directly breach China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and “cast a serious shadow” over bilateral ties.

Tibet has long been a sensitive issue between the two countries. India hosts the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and is a seat for Tibetan Buddhist refugees, escalating an ongoing tension with China.

“In reality, [the] Xizang-related issue is a thorn in China-India relations and has become a burden for India,” Yu Jing, a Chinese embassy spokesperson, posted on X, referring to “Xizang”, the Chinese name for Tibet.

“As professionals in foreign affairs, they should be fully cognizant of the sensitivity of issues related to Xizang,” Yu added. “The reincarnation and succession of the Dalai Lama is inherently an internal affair of China.”

China’s response came after several visits by Tibetan political figures to India. China renewed its call for India to cease any support for what it describes as “Tibet separatism.”

The spokesperson repeated that issues over Tibet are a long-term, fundamental threat to bilateral ties. She stressed that unless India adjusts its approach, these tensions will continue to hamper Beijing’s economic and security cooperation with New Delhi.

With input from Al Jazeera