India China: A Week of Multiple Contentions

Representative Picture of the High Himalayas by WIX AI

India China relations are extremely sensitive at the best of times and even minor statements can result in creating differences which while not leading to disputes but does create scope for the same as the Asian rivals multiple bilateral and regional divergences.

The past week was one where these differences were aired publicly.

Firstly, Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi’s birthday wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the attendance of ministers on his birthday celebrations invited Chinese ire. What was an honorific gesture to a revered religious figure turned out to be a hot political button. Added to the same was the issue of His succession.

Then there were allegations by India’s military brass of China’s active support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in sharing satellite information had the potential to create discord, though the issue was played down by the Chief of  Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan.

Difference in Perceptions Pak China Military Fusion

Taking the latter issue first,  Indian Army Deputy Chief of Army Staff (capability development & sustenance) Lt Gen. Rahul R. Singh at a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry event highlighted China Pakistan collusion accusing Beijing of using Pakistan as a, “borrowed knife,” to kill and test weapons. Days later however, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan played down Chinese support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

At the FICCI event on July 05, 2025, General Singh said, “Pakistan was the front face. We had China providing all possible support. This is no surprise because if you look at statistics, in the last five years, 81 percent of the military hardware that Pakistan is getting is Chinese. China, of course—the good old dictum, killed by a borrowed knife … So, it would rather use the neighbour to cause pain than get involved in the mud-slinging match on the northern borders.”

Singh also claimed that China was giving live updates of Indian military deployments to Pakistan.

“When DGMO-level talks were on, Pakistan actually was mentioning that we know that your such and such vector was primed and ready for action, and we would request you to—perhaps—pull it back. So, it was getting live inputs from China. That is one place we really need to move fast and take appropriate action,” he said.

Days after the statement of the Army Deputy Chief, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on July 08 underplayed Chinese support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

 “How much of State support is very difficult to define,” General Chauhan said speaking at an Observer Research Federation event in Delhi.

He also confirmed that there was no unusual activity on the northern borders during the conflict with Pakistan. “Maybe it was a short conflict, but it is a fact that there was no unusual activity. The second fact is that Pakistan imports most of its weapons from China. Chinese OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) have a number of liabilities, so there will be people attempting to service their liabilities, and they will be there. That happens everywhere,” he said.

On the satellite information allegedly provided by China to Pakistan the CDS said, “Third is information—there are a number of Chinese companies also doing work for commercial imagery. You have Maxar and Planet Labs. You can go to China or the US. How much of State support is very difficult to define,” he added.

China on July 08 defended Beijing’s “traditional friendship” with Islamabad, saying that defence and security cooperation is part of the “normal cooperation” between them.

It is unclear if Lt General Rahul R Singh statements was to send a signal to the Chinese while avoiding to extend the issue of support.

Differences aired in public tend to indicate that at the apex level India is seeking to keep up the ongoing engagement with China on an even keel with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh having returned from a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Meet in Qingdao and the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar due to attend the Foreign Minister’s meeting there shortly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also attend the SCO Summit to be held in China later this year though there are no clear indications of the same.

HH Dalai Lama Birthday and Succession

The differences in the military commanders on China’s support to Pakistan come even as Beijing has expressed displeasure on the Indian Prime Minister’s wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his birthday. "His [HH Dalai Lama’s] message has inspired respect and admiration across all faiths. We pray for his continued good health and long life," PM Modi posted said in a post on X.

 "India needs to be fully cognizant of the sensitivity of issues related to Xizang, see clearly the anti-China and separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama, honor the commitments India has made to China on issues related to Xizang, act prudently, and stop using those issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs," the Chinese spokesperson Mao Ning said.

With Minister Kiren Rijiju a practicing Buddhist and from Arunachal Pradesh which is claimed by China also attending the event in Dharamsala, Beijing expressed further concern. In fact, Union ministers Rijiju and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Sikkim minister Sonam Lama attended the Tibetan leader's birthday celebrations in Dharamshala.

Related issue of succession of HH Dalai Lama could be a potential hot button ahead, even though India has officially refused to intercede. On July 2, Dalai Lama said that the institution of Dalai Lama will continue even after his death and no one else has the authority to decide on the matter.

Earlier on May 21, 2025, HH had said, “The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognized has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition. I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter”.

Reacting to His Holiness statement on July 2, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong shared that the reincarnation process has continued for the last 700 years. “The 14th Dalai Lama is part of this long-standing historical tradition and religious succession, not otherwise. The reincarnation of Dalai Lamas neither began from him nor will end due to him. He has no authority to decide whether the reincarnation system shall continue or be abolished,” he added.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs maintained a stoic distance from the politics of succession. The Ministry’s official Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal in response to media queries regarding recent statement by HH the Dalai Lama said, “ We have seen reports relating to the statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama about the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution. Government of India does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. Government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so”.

Conclusion

The issue of Pak China military fusion and succession of HH The Dalai Lama are issues which have the potential to create tensions in India China relations and thus need careful handling by both sides. Given geopolitical and economic disruptions evident across the globe now, New Delhi and Beijing are likely to maintain a degree of stability even as there continues to be no sign of de-escalation on the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

Will China attempt to trigger another intrusion this time in Arunachal Pradesh keeping the linkages with Tibet should keep the Indian military’s eye  on the ball avoiding another faux pas as of April – May 2020.