Friday, March 11, 2011

Dalai Steps Down

The Dalai Lama has relenquished political authority over the Tibetan people, and now remains as only their spiritual leader. This move by him will help to neutralize China's attempts to assert control over Tibetans by holding his successor as their puppet.

It's now a question of how Tibetans can organize themselves politically, to select a new political authority to speak for their political aspirations.

3 comments:

smriti said...

Although the move comes across as seemingly smart, to preempt Chinese interference in the election process, its effectiveness can only be judged by the fulfillment of the political objectives of the exiled Tibetans.

The Dalai Lama' political successes are moderate if not lacking. Even a few years ago there was growing discontent about the effectiveness of his political leadership.Tibetan Buddhism itself has many sects which claim their superior religious authority.

In hailing the Dalai Lama' move as an effective check against Chinese malice, the Chinese influence and its intent to shape Tibetan affairs cannot be discounted - even if one were to relegate their role to appointing a Panchen Lama. The successful blocking of Visa to the Dalai Lama by South Africa seems to serve as an indicator to Beijing's reach.

Any move in Tibet, should be seen by India through its own security and foreign policy prism. The Tibetan impasse has continued for over 60 years and it has cost India the most.

As the Chinese tenor has grown vituperative over the years, India would be well served to protect its own interests, than be swayed by the US foreign policy or those glassy eyed American movie celebs on a temporary dose of Buddhist fashion and a penchant for pacifist balderdash.

san said...

No, India was very right not to reiterate recognition of Tibet as part of China during Wen's recent visit, given China's new antics in refusing visits to Indians from Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh, modifying visas, etc.

We don't have to fight America's fight for it, but neither do we have to fight China's fight against us for it.

smriti said...

Does India have a card like Taiwan to keep China on tenterhooks? The stapled visas for Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh is an extension of the Chinese policy of regular incursions in to the Indian territory in to Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir is a pawn to rub it into India's woes.

Our counter policy to Chinese belligerence is not effective as it should because we lack the strategic depth and in not keeping pace with its military rise.

China uses SriLanka as effectively as Pakistan to counter India in its own waters and then there is Bangladesh. We simply haven't the same intent to forge our allies in its backyard. Why, even the traditional US ally like Philippines is being arm twisted to concede to China' will in contested South China sea territories. We need to play our cards with our sights fixed on protecting our sovereignty and integrity, if the buffers in place were to boil over from China' side.

It would be disingenuous to say that we would only be fighting only China' territorial ambitions and not its intent for Tibet.

India' China policy needn't be alarmist or reactive. It has to serve its own aspirations and sadly when it comes to China our aspirations simply draw a blank.