Why Is China So Angry?
1. The Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday Becomes a Flashpoint
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks praising the Dalai Lama as a symbol of “peace, unity and compassion” were viewed in Beijing as an affront to Chinese sovereignty.
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Rubio also reaffirmed the Tibetan people’s right to choose their spiritual leader, challenging China’s decades-long claim that it alone can determine the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation.
2. Reincarnation Dispute Deepens
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The Dalai Lama reiterated during his birthday week that only his Gaden Phodrang Trust will decide the process of his reincarnation.
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This directly clashes with China’s official line that the Communist Party will oversee any reincarnation — a bizarre claim rooted in an imperial-era Qing law.
➡️ China’s fear: If the Dalai Lama names a successor in exile, it would severely undercut Beijing’s control narrative in Tibet, especially among diaspora and Buddhist communities worldwide.
Tariff Threats Add Fuel to the Fire
Trump’s New BRICS Tariff Push:
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Trump announced plans to impose a 10% tariff on all BRICS nations — including China, India, and Brazil — if they align on “anti-American” agendas.
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The move, supposedly starting with formal letters on July 7, is seen as Trump positioning for a more protectionist, nationalist trade policy in his possible second term.
➡️ China called the plan “self-defeating”, reiterating BRICS’s ethos of “openness and cooperation.”
U.S. Aid Restoration for Tibetans Upsets Beijing
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The $6.8 million aid package to Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal, recently restored by the Biden administration, marks a return to a pre-Trump foreign policy supporting Tibetan autonomy.
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Penpa Tsering, head of the Tibetan exile government, called the move a moral boost after being sidelined by “America First” policies.
INDIA’S ROLE: A Calculated Assertiveness
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PM Modi’s public birthday wishes to the Dalai Lama and the presence of Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal CM Pema Khandu at the Dharamshala event drew strong Chinese protest.
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China accused India of breaching past commitments on Tibet (Xizang) and interfering in China’s internal affairs.
➡️ Delhi’s message: Despite not officially recognizing the Tibetan government-in-exile, India is reaffirming soft support for the Dalai Lama — especially amid tensions over Arunachal Pradesh and border disputes.
What’s at Stake?
| Issue | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Reincarnation Dispute | Controls the future legitimacy of Tibetan leadership |
| Tariffs | May reignite a U.S.–China trade war |
| BRICS Strain | Disrupts China’s influence in the Global South |
| India-Tibet Ties | Risk of escalation along the Line of Actual Control |
Final Takeaway:
China’s dual-front anger — over Western economic pressure and Tibetan spiritual autonomy — reveals Beijing’s deeper insecurity: losing control over narratives, symbols, and systems of legitimacy, both at home and abroad.
By spotlighting Tibet, the U.S. and India are sending a message: human rights, identity, and sovereignty will remain flashpoints in this new Cold War — even as trade and diplomacy continue on parallel tracks.
