India China Tibet: a failing pythagorian

Vide its agreement with China in April, 1954 India recognised Tibet as “Tibet region of China”, India always assured China that it had no political ambitions in Tibet and recognised Tibet as an integral part of China. The foundations of foreign policy towards China as laid by the first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru was to befriend China, and the same continued subsequently. The relinquishment of India’s trade privileges in Tibet which it had gained under British rule was a part of the policy. The Tibetian Government in Exile at Dharamshala always asserted as Tibet being an independent political entity. The stance of Tibetian Government has changed with time, from a “Independent Tibet” to “Autonomous Tibet”, so much so that Dalai Lama has openly accepted his willingness to negotiate for an “Autonomous Tibet” under Chinese Sovereignty. What is evident from the Chinese stance is that it wants a clear proclamation from the Dalai Lama that ‘Tibet was always an integral part of China’ and abstain from any kind of anti-Chinese propaganda. As has been the problem with most of the movements dominated by single personalities; the ‘free Tibet’ movement revolves around the Dalai Lama which is not something that the brains in the Chinese foreign ministry haven’t thought of. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told the Czech Newspaper Pravo,”The policy of the central government is clear. Paths of contact to him remain open and have never been closed. However, the Dalai Lama must cease orienting towards the independence of Tibet, completely stop his activities aimed at dividing China and publicly acknowledge that Tibet is an indivisible part of China and that Taiwan is a province of China. The doors are open for negotiations”[1] There have allegedly been a lot of human rights violations in Tibet by the Chinese Government including killing, destruction, control over rights to speech and expression and Tibetians are not allowed to express their religious and political views[2]. A number of countries including United States, UK, Australia, and India have condemned these violations and urged to the Chinese Government to act accordingly. The series of talks between Tibetian Government in exile and People’s Republic of China haven’t been much productive since 1980 when China claimed to have inaugurated the ‘liberalisation of Tibet’, it was in 1984 when a high level delegation went to Beijing for talks but it also could not make any advancements.
India’s standpoint on Tibet hasn’t changed pragmatically, as from 1954 to present day India has just moved from ‘Tibet a region of China’ to ‘Tibet an autonomous region of China’. Critiques have pointed out Tibet has always been a ‘negotiating asset’ for India and its stand has changed in lieu of other considerations of peace, border issues etc. India during peace negotiations with China has always assured China, that it would not let Tibetians engage in Anti-Chinese Political activities on Indian Soil. Since 2002, when the talks resumed between the Tibetian Government in Exile and People’s Republic of China nothing has been made public.[3]
In the course of Sino-Indian relations, it is not border that would be a contention for long[4], nor would there be any major issue on which the two nations would have a clash of interest, it is “Tibet” that has and will continue to be the key to Sino-Indian relations. It is of strategic importance to both the nations and Chinese deployment of nuclear warheads and a large military all across Indian borders in Tibetian Plateau always gets India thinking on the policy it should adopt in a long course with China. There are possibly two options that the researcher thinks India has, each of which will be discussed subsequently.
First and foremost India should do away the ‘middle path’ policy on the Tibet. Until now this policy of “Tibet is an autonomous part of China” and being indifferent towards Anti-Chinese activities and politics by Tibet has just worsened Sino-Indian Relations. At this point, Sino-Pak military alliance has been of a great security threat to the country and the only way of getting over that threat is to befriend the stronger partner. China and India being similarly placed in the scenario of needs and requirements, it is imperative to have good Sino-Indian relationships which would help the two countries in the process of collective bargaining on various issues from the west. If India goes ahead and makes its present stand clear on Tibet, make an unequivocal commitment to stand by it, there is no issue between the two countries which cannot be resolved by the process of a bilateral diplomacy. But the question is whether India’s trade off of its stand on Tibet for mere self interest be equitable?
The stand of India and Tibetian Government in Exile on Tibet is that it is an ‘Autonomous region of China’ doesn’t make any difference to the People’s Republic of China as at the present day too it is a so called ‘autonomous region’ despite the fact there are gross violation of Human rights, every effort by the People’s republic of China to destroy the uniqueness of Tibetian culture. If it was to the historical facts Tibet was always an independent entity, and n the present day India commits itself to the policy of ‘Tibet being an integral part of China’ just to appease it. Is this policy equitable? How long will it subsist? The public opinion in India is still that supports Tibet and so in case India decides to go on the other path it would sure attract unpopularity from the masses. And in that case, the question still that would pose India is can it trust China putting so much at stake?

[1] As quoted in http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rpt/34266.htm, U.S. Department of State, 07.11.2007.
[2] http://www.tibet.com/WhitePaper/white5.html, The Government of Tibet in Exile, 11.11.2007.
[3] See also http://www.savetibet.org/advocacy/sinotibetan/index.php, International Campaign for Tibet, 08.11.2007.
[4] China shares border with 6 countries out of which it has resolved its border disputes with every other nation except India, India is engaged in a border dispute with every other neighbor except Bhutan.