India can reclaim leverage by emphasizing that its acceptance of Chinas hold on Tibet hinged on a grant of genuine autonomy to the plateau, whose elevation is so high that it is called the Roof of the World. Instead of granting autonomy, China has brought Tibet under tight political control and unleashed increasing repression, triggering a wave of self-immolations and grass-roots desperation. Having ceased to be a political buffer between China and India, Tibet could become a political bridge between the worlds demographic titans if Beijing were willing to initiate a process of reconciliation to ease Tibetans feelings of estrangement. Otherwise, Tibet will remain at the core of the China-India divide. The tense military standoff triggered by intruding Chinese troops is a reminder of that.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 15:01:33 +0000
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