China `appreciates` Indian stand on Tibet

K J M Varma
Beijing, Mar 11 (PTI) China on Thursday appreciated
the stand of the Indian government recognising Tibet
autonomous region as an integral part of China and New Delhi’s
assertion not to allow "Tibetan separatist" activities in the
country.
"The Indian government has said that the Tibet
Autonomous Region is an integral part of Chinese territory and
that they do not allow Tibetan separatist activities in India.
We express our appreciation to the Indian side," Jiang Yu, the
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said on Thursday.
She was replying to a question whether Tibetan
spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s speech on the 51st
anniversary of the Tibetans' National Uprising Day on
Wednesday had any negative impact on China’s ties with India
and does Beijing think that New Delhi is doing enough to
restrict the Tibetan separatist activities.
"China and India are the promoters of the five
principles of peaceful coexistence. One of the principles is
mutual respect for each others’ sovereignty and territorial
integrity. We hope China and India can develop conducive and
comprehensive relations," she said.
The 74-year-old exiled spiritual leader accused China
of trying to deliberately "annihilate Buddhism" in Tibet by
conducting a campaign of patriotic re-education in monasteries
there.
"Today, the Chinese authorities are conducting various
political campaigns, including a campaign of patriotic
re-education in many monasteries in Tibet. They are putting
the monks and nuns in prison-like conditions depriving them
the opportunity to study and practise in peace," he said in a
statement in the Indian northern town of Dharamsala in India.
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