Dalai sees China objection to Tawang visit as 'negative'

The Dalai Lama said his upcoming visit to the Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh was not the first one, and that he was surprised and saddened by China’s criticism over it. “I was surprised at China’s criticism. If my visit creates problem, I am very sad, that’s all,” the Tibetan leader, on a visit here told journalists, implying that he intends to go ahead with his visit on November 8.

“... So now I think when the Chinese government (opposes) ... (then they have) some sort of a negative attitude or seriousness about my visit... I am a little bit of surprised,” he said. The 74-year old Nobel Peace Prize winner said his visits were “politicised too much” by Chinese government. “Where I go is not political,” he said.
Contending that he was travelling to Arunachal for teaching his beliefs, the Dalai Lama said Tawang held great memories for him as this was his first stop 50 years ago when he was forced to flee Tibet, according to Kyodo.

India and China were recently engaged in a verbal spat over Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to Arunachal over which China lays claim. China objected to his visit, but India rejected the objection, saying the Tibetan leader was free to travel anywhere in India.