New Delhi (Sputnik) – Nobel Peace Laureate and Tibetan leader-in-exile the Dalai Lama is of the opinion that presently India and China are both too powerful to defeat each other. He was referring to the current tension at Doklam plateau where Indian and Chinese forces are locked in a standoff since the last two months. Doklam is a tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan with the latter two having claims over it. India says it is treaty-bound to protect Bhutan’s territorial sovereignty – a claim strongly despised by China.
He also advocated cultural bonding and people to people contact between the two countries. He was of the opinion that since more and more Chinese were accepting Buddhism as a way of life, India should take steps to attract Chinese tourists and pilgrims to places like Gaya and Nalanda – the seat of Buddhist culture.
“We must understand that the followers of Buddhism in China are actually following the line of Indian Buddhism that came from Nalanda and Sanskrit. India should develop pilgrimage for Chinese people who follow Buddhism. These people can come to places like Bodh Gaya and can come closer to India emotionally as well,” Dalai Lama said.
The Dalai Lama sought political asylum in India in 1959 following an aborted uprising against the Chinese dominion in Tibet. He was named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 in recognition of his nonviolent campaign over 40 years to end China's domination of his homeland.
