Hyderabad: Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay said that China should respect the territorial sovereignty of India and the world should stand with New Delhi during this crisis. In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, the Prime Minister of Tibetan government exile pointed out that Tibet is the core issue that needs to be settled for enduring peace at India's Himalayan borders.
Here is the detailed interview:
Q) When the entire world is railing under COVID-19 pandemic, as we all know China was blamed for the spread of the virus, instead of helping the world to overcome the crisis, China has opened the war front against India. How do you see the development in the Himalayan area?
A) China is facing both internal pressure because within the party factions there are some discoordination, murmuring and criticism is going on. Moreover factors like unemployment rate, economic slowdown, the banking loans collapsing are there.
And externally, around 130 members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have signed up to say to investigate the origin of the coronavirus and punish the responsible country or the government. Hence they are facing both internal and external pressure. So in an attempt to divert the attention towards something else, they have launched the incursions and flexing of muscles in South China sea to East China sea to Ladakh. This is an attempt to distract the attention of the world from investigating and getting blamed for the spread of the coronavirus.
Q) Why is China suddenly provoking India the Ladakh front? This the just few months after the Ladakh has been declared as union territory by the Indian government. Do you see the larger game plan from Chinese government to the red army?
A) There is couple of factors. Ladakh was declared union territory and they are making this incursion. But the main issue has always been the Aksai Chin that Pakistan has handed over to China which is under their control. But with the roads and infrastructure being built from the Indian side strengthens the Indian army and geopolitical strategy. Hence they are responding.
In 2017, they tested the India-Bhutan alliance if Doklam and India live up to the alliance and push back the Chinese army. So they are opening another front to test see how much India can take it.
All the neighbouring countries of India and in Asia are watching what are these two giants and most populate countries with the largest military doing and who will come on the top. So, the Chinese government is flexing its muscle and sending a message to all the neighbouring countries saying we are the big brother.
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Q) Throwing all the guidelines to the wings, China attracts Indian Army, Indian Soldiers who are going to the camps for talks, they are not even armed, should not it be condemned by the world community?
A) Any kind of violence against unarmed people should be condemned. The announcement was made that the de-escalation is taking place and talks are going on. Once both the sides agreed this is very tensed and de-escalation should take place and talks are already begun. But none the less, you read 20 jawans were critically injured and subsequently they died and other critically injured. So when you hear this you are very disappointed and alarmed because after de-escalation and talks this kind of violence is uncalled and unnecessary.
Q) You have been fighting the independence battle with China, there has been a struggle going on for ages, you all have seen the minds of the Chinese government, you all have read the minds of the Chinese government, you have so many days of struggle, so now China has been trying to create trouble over the border of the Himalayan range, you see them creating trouble in Ladakh, then in Nepal, they are creating a problem, in Arunachal Pradesh, they are trying to create a problem, and several areas they are trying to touch the Himalayan region, not only the Himalayan region but they are also trying to explore the regions such as Sri Lanka and others, So, " What do you think about the mind of the Chinese government over exploring the whole sub-continents?
A) I think there are short term, midterm and long term strategy. we have already discussed the short term why China is behaving like this at this present time. Now the long term has been when Tibet was occupied in the 1950s, the Chinese and other leaders have declared Tibet is the palm and we must occupy this and then go after five fingers. Five fingers- Ladakh is number one, then Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Hence what happened in Doklam and the pressure to the government of Nepal, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim all these are the part of long term strategy because they occupy Tibet. Now they are coming after five fingers. Hence we have been saying that till you address the issue of Tibet all this problem will continue because this the part of their grand strategy.
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Q) Since the exile of his holiness Dalai Lama in 1959, there have been systematic human rights violations in the parts of Tibet, there is the degradation of the echo system, whole eco-system in Tibet?
A) As far as human rights are concerned not even a single Tibetan or two or three will to go the street and participate in the protest. But in India, you want to protest you can go to Jantar Mantar and can stay there for hours to days to weeks and you have a place to protest. In Tibet not even two or three people can protest. If you do you will be arrested and put behind the bars. You cannot have a picture of his holiness Dalai Lama, you can go to prison. 154 Tibetans have committed self-immolation. So the situation in Tibet is very very serious. And from the environmental point of view Tibet is the water tower of Asia. 10 major rivers in Asia flow from Tibet. Indus valley,Sutlej river, Brhamputra and many more rivers come from Tibet. So China controls all the water resources for the whole of South Aisa, Southeast Asia and Aisa because they are sitting on the roof of the world. So at the moment, all kind of Tibetan minerals like gold, copper, uranium are exploited. A second-largest copper mine in whole of Asia is in Tibet. China is exploiting it without paying anything to Tibetans. So they are enriching themselves at the cost of Tibetan people.
Q) Do you think Tibet is the core issue of confrontation between India and China? Because China didn't share its border with Nepal, Bhutan or India. Tibet is the one border state over there. Do you think this could be the reason? And, how could the Indian government react to the Tibet issue?
A) When Tibet was an independent country there was no need for the Indian army because there was no violence. So 3,488 KMs long border between Tibet and India has now become the border between India and China. Other than the tip of the Kashmir, there was no border between India and China. So Tibet acted as the buffer zone, as a zone of peace which separated to of these giant countries. Now they are facing each other because the occupation of Tibet is accepted and hence the Chinese army is moving inside Indian territory. All these problems have come up as Tibet is occupied by China. The Chinese leaders have said that the stability and security of China depend on the stability and security of Tibet. Hence we must strengthen the border and they are doing it. Now the Indian government should say Tibet is their core issue and should discuss to solve the issue.
Q) There is virus spread over construction work going on in Tibetian area, the local population has been subjected to sub-human treatment in that area, do you think the world community is more or less silent over this issue in recent years?
A) Tibetans in Tibet are made as a second class citizen. Their human rights violations, their cultural rights, their economical marginalization all these things are taking place. Yet infrastructural development is taking place, roads are being built, railway tracks are being built, airports are being built to bring in more Chinese people. Now 30 airports are being built, now six military airfields are built. And many of them bordering India. So all these military airfields meant to bring in military supplies to Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. And now they are connecting railway track all the way from China to Tibet to Nepal. They want to bring it to Kathmandu and Lumbini bordering Uttar Pradesh. So all these infrastructure has military strategy behind it. They have converted demilitarised zone Tibet to a militarised zone.
Q) Sir, let's talk on the economic front. We know that India is a big market for Chinese goods, they have contracts, joint-ventures running in India. Now, not overcome the Chinese hegemony, how should India tackle it? Because it's not easy to ban or bar these companies, it also affects the Indian economy, Indian employment scenario. How do you think, India should tackle it? Should we go for a complete boycott or ban?
A) His holiness Dalai Lama always advices every leader or any country that one must engage with the rest of the world. This is a globalized world. The economic engagement, diplomatic engagement should continue. Having said that on Economic front you will do business with others to make money. At the moment 80 per cent of the profit goes to China and only 20 per cent to India. So there is a trade imbalance and profit imbalance. How would you balance this? This should be the policy discussion of the Indian government. So how Indian government and PM Modi ji has called for Make In India and such policies should turn into projects and implemented so that the Indian made goods will be better than others making Indian people buy them. In fact, India can sale them to others and make more profits from other countries. So this how you go step by step.
Q) How do you see the political future of the youth of Tibetians who are born and brought up in India? But someday they would aspire to go back to their motherland, to their villages, to their agriculture, back in Tibet?
A) Those who were born and brought up in India are very much patriot of Tibetan cause. They dedicate themselves for Tibetan cause and at the same time they grow up eating dal bhat, biriyani of India. They like Indian culture, dishes and sentiments. For example, when there is a cricket match between India and Pakistan, they just jump and cheer the Indian team. If Tibetan issue resolved, many of them would go to Tibet as their grandparents, parents and siblings are still there. They want to go back and contribute to the cause of Tibet.
Q) Adding to this question, I would just like to ask you one question, the Tibetian youth who have been away from the country for long, some of them may not have seen the struggle, or which is there going on for decades, now, do you think, because some experts say that they are now more inclined to age, new media, towards modernism, rather than engraving themselves with the struggle or Tibetian revolution. Do you think that could be the case?
A) No, I don't think so. When you are young you want to follow modernism, you do stupid things, you do smart things. You have your own way of doing things in life. But when you grow older, you have the sense of being who you are, your identity is more important and your causes are more important. But everywhere in the world, wherever Tibetans are more education, more exposure they get, their sense of identity, their participation in Tibet's cause, their belief in Tibet's cause is increasing and getting better because we organise 550 youth forum every year. We bring participants from all over the world. They are very active and dynamic and leadership provided by them will be very good.
Q) Post COVID-19, what China is doing, they are trying to enforce upon a new world order, they are fighting with America, they are fighting with Taiwan, they are doing something with Hong Kong. How should the world respond to it?
A) The Chinese are under tremendous pressure. The conflict is between the democracy and the authority system. India believes in democracy and practices it but China does not. So they are trying to restructure the United Nations to their favour. They are trying to redefine human rights to their favour. So the alliance of democracy should be formed in which India should take part and provide leadership and say democracy is what all countries should practise. And International norms and laws that have been laid down should be implemented including at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). So this is a major conflict. So the alliance of democracy is the strategy. Coalition and coordination with the other countries in confronting with China is the strategy.
Q) That is somehow happening.The US and other countries are getting together with India, all the democracies of the world.
A) India participates in various forums. But India should take leadership and promote democracy.
Q) Also recently, which we have seen it is a brave effort to end the decade of old military occupation debate, US congressman has introduced the historic registration to the house committee of US foreign affairs, to recognise Tibet as an independent nation. What do you make of it? It's just a stance to counter China? Are they really interested in a separate connection for Tibet? Because we know, China and the US, they don't get along.
A) Both the Democratic and Republic parties in the US support Tibet. There are concerns in Washington DC to see Chian more of an adversary than as a partner. So there are growing concerns that we must do something to deal with China and form an alliance of democracy to confront it. Hence some Congressmen are coming out in support of Tibet and one bill is to support the independence of Tibet. Any person, organisation support Tibetan cause we welcome them. The bill is symbolic support for Tibet. The most substantive bill is the Tibet Policy and Support Act which the house has passed and the Senate will debate. If the Senate passes it then it will be a law.
