Penpa Tsering, the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, has accused the Chinese government of orchestrating the recent viral video controversy surrounding the Dalai Lama. Tsering said the re-emergence of the video, which shows the Dalai Lama kissing a child at a public event, was part of a larger campaign to tarnish the reputation of the Tibetan spiritual leader.
Speaking to Zee News’ diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibal, he said, “Everyone knows who benefits from His Holiness’s defamation, destruction of reputation and legacy of his sanctity – it is the Chinese government”.
Sikyong (Chairman) Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration also spoke out against the Chinese aggression on India’s northern border, saying that their actions were not helping anyone. Additionally, Tsering challenged the Chinese government to properly study Tibetan Buddhism before attempting to interfere with the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, warning that their actions could lead to “lifelong problems”.
Siddhant Sibal: My first question to you is about the recent controversy surrounding His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We saw the scenes running on the internet. What do you have to say about this?
Sikyong Penpa Tsering: It is really unfortunate that His Holiness’s actions have been taken in a very different light. If you watch the full video, you will understand the affectionate behavior of a grandfather of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness is 87 years old. Please understand, he is no longer a young man to be accused of all names.
“We also need to understand from where it is coming. You know this incident happened publicly on February 28 in the presence of media. Now it has surfaced again after a month and 10 days and these viral Who were the first instigators to bring it back to the fore?” And everyone knows who benefits from the slander, destruction of His Holiness’s reputation and the legacy of his sanctity – it’s the Chinese government, we all know that but unfortunately, what was going on in social media, the Chinese government picked up Mainstream news.”
“But I am also happy to say that they have not repeated the program because I think they have realized their mistakes based on the deliberately pushed clip of the spear campaign against His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
Siddhant Sibal: So, are you saying it was the Chinese government? Do you think the Chinese government was really behind this whole saga?
Sikyong Penpa Tsering: From the first-hand evidence that we have, even before it spread here, it was widely spread within China to create an impression of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, then it went internationally and if you Look at the scale and extent of it and how it was orchestrated, a huge strength. there’s no doubt about it.
Siddhant Sibal: What do you have to say about the recent developments on the border, especially when it comes to Arunachal Pradesh, the Chinese building up infrastructure and villages?
Sikyong Penpa Tsering: How it will help build harmonious societies, harmonious neighbours. I didn’t get. I do not understand the unnecessary maneuvers of the Chinese on the Indian border. It used to be the Tibet-India border, it is still the Indo-Tibetan Border Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police for the Government of India, it is not the Sino-Indian border.
“What the Chinese government is doing now is not helping anyone. Of course, you now have a sense of strategic rivalry and economic competition between the two countries, but this cannot benefit both countries. Why it should be done against the country, it doesn’t make any sense.”
“Like if China really wants more peace and stability in the region, it has to win the trust of its people, the Chinese people, the Tibetans, the Uighurs, the Mongols, Hong Kong, everybody. Then it has to win everybody’s trust.” neighboring countries; They may have political power, military power, all that, but they don’t have moral power. Nobody trusts them.”
Siddhant Sibal: So, my last question, the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, we have seen the Chinese coming out with their own ideas and certainly their own versions. What do you have to say about that?
Sikyong Penpa Tsering: So, all we can say is that if they want to be responsible for His Holiness’s rebirth, they should first study Tibetan Buddhism. This is unique to Tibetan Buddhism, without understanding the concept of life after death, how can you be responsible, and my challenge to the Chinese government is, do you want a lifetime problem. When the time comes, His Holiness certainly assures us that he will live for another two decades, 113 years.
“I also keep saying that it remains to be seen whether his Holiness trumps the Communist Party, or the Communist Party trumps the Dalai Lama. But again, China wants to use this as a political tool. And if they’ve learned any lesson how they chose their own Panchen Lama, chose their own Panchen Lama, completely disregarding the boy chosen by His Holiness the Dalai Lama… today that boy inside Tibet is not recognized by the Tibetans of K. The Chinese tried to send him to neighboring Buddhist countries, to no effect. So whether they want another lifelong problem, a lifelong headache, is something the Chinese leadership needs to think.