China rejects re-opening of India's Lhasa consulate

[Ray]

China rejects re-opening of India's Lhasa consulate

August 4: China has rejected India's request to re-open its consulate in Tibet's ancient capital city of Lhasa. According to Indian media reports, Beijing instead suggested Chengdu, a city on the edge of the Tibetan plateau, as an alternative location.

In May this year, New Delhi had requested Beijing to allow India to re-open its Lhasa consulate, which was shut down following the 1962 border war between the two nations.

Although there is no official word from Beijing on the rejection, observers believe that China will not tolerate a constant foreign presence in the restive capital of Tibet. Currently, only Nepal has a consulate in Lhasa.

However, according to reports, the Indian side is not willing to settle for anything other than Lhasa.

The Indian demand came on the heels of a Chinese request to open a third consulate in the south Indian city of Chennai. Beijing already has consulates in Mumbai and Kolkata and an embassy in Delhi.

China being India's largest trade partner in goods, Indian officials have been quoted as saying that a consulate in Lhasa would help bilateral trade and pilgrimage, such as the Kailash Mansarovar yatra.

Recently, India's ambassador to China, S Jaishankar, made a rare trip to Tibet, the first by an Indian envoy in ten years. Shortly after his trip, an Indian military delegation also visited the Tibetan plateau.

India is not the only country seeking a consulate in Lhasa.

In July 2011, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee directed the US Secretary of State to forbid additional Chinese consulates in the United States until China allows a US consulate in Lhasa.

The US House of Representatives in 2009 had passed a bill authorising the establishment of a US Consulate in Tibet and also allowing the creation of a "Tibet Section" in the US embassy in Beijing.

China rejects re-opening of India's Lhasa consulate - www.phayul.com

It is obvious that China cannot allow India or the US to open up a Consulate in Lhasa.

Tibet and Xinjaing are restive and China is at sixes and sevens to take a firm grip on both these areas. They have tried every possible trick in the book - repression, threat, indoctrination, pouring in unheard sums of money and so on. Nothing has worked for China and China is in dire straits over both these region.

If one has diplomats in Lhasa, they cannot be asked to leave, as China does for all foreigners when there is any lock-down China organises to curb the restive people of Tibet. Thus, these diplomats will have a 'bird's eye view' of the reality and repression that China does first hand. That would expose China in its true colours.

China also fears that the Consulate would become a centre for the Dalai Lama's supporters and the Tibetans in general. Naturally, China is apprehensive of people they call 'splittists'. These people could catalyse the aspirations of the Tibetan people, now under Han bondage. This could also encourage the the 'splittists' of Xinjiang and then bring the Chinese dream of mining the vast natural resources of these two virgin regions that is fuelling the Chinese economy, as also it would create a 'break' in the oil and gas pipeline that is connecting China to the CAR hydrocarbon reserves.

A consulate in Chengdu is of no use to India since it does not serve any purpose.

 

[Ray]

How can India impress on China that opening a Consulate is not detrimental to China?

Let us see if you all have the ideas to make constructive suggestions to the Foreign Ministry on this issue.

 

[nimo_cn]

There is no Indians in Tibet, so what is the real purpose of setting up an Indian Consulate?

Setting up a terrorist camp there in the name of diplomacy? Indians are genius.

 

[Bangalorean]

There is no Indians in Tibet, so what is the real purpose of setting up an Indian Consulate?

Setting up a terrorist camp there in the name of diplomacy? Indians are genius.

What about Buddhists who want to come to India someday on a pilgrimage? I personally know one such.

And India does not follow a policy of training terrorists/non-state actors. Maybe you've become too influenced by the thinking of your taller-deeper friend.

 

[Tolaha]

One of the most important spots significant to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike are Mt. Kailash and Manasa sarovara (lake), both in Tibet!

 

[Bangalorean]

One of the most important spots significant to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike are Mt. Kailash and Manasa sarovara (lake), both in Tibet!

Right, so it works in the reverse direction too! Indians wanting to go to China. They might need to embassy anytime.

 

[Tolaha]

Right, so it works in the reverse direction too! Indians wanting to go to China. They might need to embassy anytime.

Exactly! So many straight-forward and innocent reasons for India wanting to have an embassy in Tibet. And folks here seem to prefer placing their bets on conspiracy theories!

 

[Bhadra]

India has a historical right to have a consulate in four places inside tibet......

 

[nimo_cn]

Exactly! So many straight-forward and innocent reasons for India wanting to have an embassy in Tibet. And folks here seem to prefer placing their bets on conspiracy theories!

Right, so it works in the reverse direction too! Indians wanting to go to China. They might need to embassy anytime.

If more Indians want to go to China, it only means we need to set up more Chinese Consulates in India, which is being rejected by India.

 

[Tolaha]

If more Indians want to go to China, it only means we need to set up more Chinese Consulates in India, which is being rejected by India.

China has 3 (2 consulates and an embassy) in India already while India has only 1, isn't it? Do let us know the reasoning behind it!

 

[nimo_cn]

China has 3 (2 consulates and an embassy) in India already while India has only 1, isn't it? Do let us know the reasoning behind it!

More visas need to be stamped and more Chinese are already in India, they need to be served.

And do understand that China rejected India's request to set up a consulate in Tibet, not in China.

In fact, China welcomes another Indian consulate considering more Indians are studying and working in China.

But there is no Indians in Tibet, India's request has no legitimate ground.

Chinese government was very polite and suggested Chengdu as an alternative.

I can assure you that there are much more Indians in Chengdu than in Tibet, not to mention Chengdu is just next to Tibet.

I really don't understand why India is complaining.

 

[Tolaha]

More visas need to be stamped and more Chinese are already in India, they need to be served.

That's a circular CCP logic that can appreciated by the Chinese alone and nobody else!

 

[Virendra]

Thanks to GOI, we have become experts of finding innovative ways of publicly humiliating ourselves.

 

[nimo_cn]

That's a circular CCP logic that can appreciated by the Chinese alone and nobody else!

Then I believe the logic below is something only Indians can understand.

India has a historical right to have a consulate in four places inside tibet......

 

[Ray]

Thanks to GOI, we have become experts of finding innovative ways of publicly humiliating ourselves.

Is there some humiliation?

It is a request and it has not been accepted and that is all.

I am sure the GOI knew that it would be a hard nut to crack.

Maybe, it was done to put pressure on China and expose her political weakness wherein she is scared to open up Tibet to the world and yet claim that Tibet has so wonderfully integrated itself with China.

In fact, as one could see it, it shows that China is being false about bringing normalcy to the Indo China relations. The offer of Chengu as a location for the Consulate indicates that China is totally scared of Indian (read Dalai Lama) presence in Tibet and is merely trying to go tangential to the core issue.

The not allowing the Consulate in Lhasa shows to the international community that Tibet wants self determination and that in itself proves the point that the world wants to see and which will debunk all the Chinese protestations that Tibetans are a happy lot.

It is, as I see it, a good diplomatic pressure on China.

 

[Ray]

Then I believe the logic below is something only Indians can understand.

You are spot on for a change!

 

[nimo_cn]

Then I guess China did the right thing to reject it since India has no intention to open up a consulate.

 

[Ray]

Then I guess China did the right thing to reject it since India has no intention to open up a consulate.

NO Indian wanted to open a Consulate, but a rejection also does not affect the issue.

Either way, it is a win win situation.

China has been embarrassed and exposed that Tibet burns!

But to be fair to China, China could not have allowed the Consulate.

India has a slim chance and so.......

That's how it is!

 

[nimo_cn]

There is no diplomatic pressure in rejecting India's request.

The article refers to America's similar request to impress the readership that China could be under the same pressure of rejecting US when rejecting India, and sadly someone was actually fooled.

Unlike India, US has one embassy and four other consulates in mainland China, all of which are located in Chinese major cities, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shengyang, and covers the most of mainland China except Tibet. Moreover, American tourists contribute the most to Tibet's tourism. Therefore, an American consulate in Tibet should be granted if we don't take their involvement in separating Tibet from China into consideration. I hate to admit it, but China is under pressure when dismissing America's request.

In the case of India, however, rejecting that ridiculous request is just like a routine, no pressure at all. There are many other Chinese cities where you should open up a consulate first.

Little tip for Indians, don't take yourself too seriously.

 

[Ray]

There is no diplomatic pressure in rejecting India's request.

Any country can be given permission to have Consulate anywhere in China and it would make no difference.

But Tibet and Xinjiang are two kettles of fish where China would like to keep it a Forbidden Country.

The very fact that China has denied Consulates here (and there are good reasons why there should be from the Indian view point), show a diplomatic coup in exposing that China is running scared and are not willing to open up Tibet since there is repression galore.

The international community will take note.

For China, it is a diplomatic embarrassment!

If it is not so, why is China afraid to allow Consulates in Tibet?

Your tail is burning and they can smell it right in the UN Hq!

Tip for China: You have been oversmart for long, It is time to wake up and smell the coffee!