China can block India’s bid to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar declared as an UN-designated terrorist. China can oppose and block India’s bid to enter the nuclear suppliers group. China can undermine India’s interests and when India allows the Dalai Lama to tour Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing raises the red flag. The Chinese foreign ministry summoned Indian ambassador Vijay Gokhale and lodged its protest. A foreign ministry spokesperson said, “India must stop using the Dalai Lama to do anything that undermines China’s interests.” This is double standards, pure and unadulterated. What are the Chinese afraid of? The Dalai Lama is revered in Tibet and the Chinese government is worried that his sermons in Arunachal Pradesh would influence Tibetans in China. Beijing cannot have it both ways. If it wishes to protect its interests it must also allow other nation states to do the same. It cannot undermine India’s interests and then expect New Delhi to not do anything about it. China is guilty of extending protection to terror suspects at the expense of India. It is guilty of undermining Indian effort to build and operate nuclear power stations. India wants good relations with China but it will not be a slave to the interests of Beijing. New Delhi must not back down because Asia does not belong to China.
