As India's foreign minister met his Chinese counterpart during the latter's visit to India, Tibetan refugees living in the country appealed that Delhi raise their plight with Beijing's representative. The Tibetans' demand came just days after China's foreign minister spoke on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute at an international event, inviting India's ire.
Days before his trip to India, Wang Yi attended a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation where Pakistan accused India of committing "war crimes" in Kashmir. Subsequently, Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister had said, "On Kashmir, we have heard again today the calls of many of our Islamic friends. And China shares the same hope."
India had issued a strong statement in response, reminding China that it "refrains from public judgement" of its internal affairs, and Beijing should do the same.
Also Watch| Amid Russia-Ukraine war, Chinese foreign minister arrives in India: key details here
On March 25, while some Members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile hoped that their issue is discussed in the high-level meeting, others expressed anger. Thubten Gyatso said, "I would like to request the Government of India to raise the Tibet issue during the bilateral meeting with Chinese foreign minister, and request them (Chinese) to resume dialogue with Dalai Lama on the status of Tibet's future. I would like to ask Chinese government to stop trying to eradicate Tibetan identity, marginalise Tibetan language. China must stop its repressive policy inside Tibet."
However, Namgyal Dolkar said, "Wang Yi is not welcome in a democratic and free country. The fact that China has been repressing our country Tibet for such a long time, and is responsible for the murder of so many Indian soldiers on the border... I don't know how such a person would be able to give an assurance of peace and harmony between the two nations."
Tibet was invaded by Communist China in 1949. In 1959, Tibet's political and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama fled to India, where the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile was later established.