On the occasion of the 90th birthday of the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, greetings poured in from all over the world. But one particular message has triggered strong diplomatic tremors in Beijing — the message sent by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi not only conveyed his warm wishes through a special letter but also sent a message that has clearly irritated the Chinese government.

Prime Minister Modi's message read that on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, he extends heartfelt greetings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday, praising him as a symbol of love, compassion, patience, and moral discipline. The Prime Minister also wished him a long and healthy life.

While this gesture was meant as a mark of respect and tradition, it didn’t go down well with Beijing. In fact, China reacted sharply, calling the congratulatory message an interference in its internal affairs. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Mao Ning, during a press conference, urged India to understand the sensitivity of the Tibet issue and to uphold the commitments made to China in the past. She further called on India to act prudently on Tibet-related matters.

Beijing’s overreaction reveals deep anxiety about India’s potential involvement in Tibetan affairs. For decades, India has hosted the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala, but it has largely refrained from politically engaging with the Tibet issue. However, PM Modi’s message has been interpreted by China as a diplomatic signal — one that China clearly finds threatening.

The deeper concern for China lies in the question of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation — a matter of immense spiritual and political significance. His Holiness has previously indicated that his next reincarnation would be born in a "free country", with widespread understanding that he meant India. This suggestion poses a direct challenge to China’s attempts to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama.

In his writings, the Dalai Lama has even mentioned the possibility of being reborn in India, particularly in Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan exile community. The tradition of recognizing the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has always been central to Tibetan Buddhism, and this process is led entirely by the spiritual institution itself — not by any state power. However, China appears determined to install its own chosen successor, an act widely seen as an attempt to politically manipulate Tibetan religion and culture.

India's recent posture has further worried China. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju recently stated that the right to choose the next Dalai Lama rests solely with the Dalai Lama himself and his trust. Rijiju’s statement reinforced India’s position that religious decisions should be left to religious institutions, not governments.

This declaration has amplified China's frustration and has added fuel to its suspicions that India could play a pivotal role in the future of Tibetan spiritual leadership. Beijing fears that if the next Dalai Lama is born and recognized in India, it would undermine China’s authority in Tibet and its attempts to sinicize Tibetan Buddhism.

The current escalation shows that the Dalai Lama remains a significant and sensitive symbol in Sino-Indian relations. Despite China’s protests, India's gesture — a simple birthday message — highlights the enduring respect that the Dalai Lama commands in India. At the same time, it has drawn attention to the growing tensions between the two Asian giants over Tibet’s spiritual and political future.

While India has not historically interfered in China’s internal matters, the repeated warnings from Beijing over simple acts of goodwill show a deep-seated anxiety about India's influence. And with the Dalai Lama's succession becoming an increasingly global issue, China’s unease is only likely to grow.

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