McLeodganj: The Tibetan Government-in-exile based at Himachal Pradesh's McLeodganj is carefully monitoring the recent India-China border tension.
The Central Tibetan Administration looks upon Tibet as a buffer between India and China and is appreciative of the 'bold stance' taken by India in the Doklam region.
"We know if there is a genuine resolution to the Tibet issue, there will be a buffer between China and India. What we do see is a bolder stance on the part of the Indian government which is very laudable. We would really like India to look into the eyes of the Chinese government on any kind of aggression or standoff," said Dhardon Sharling, Information Commissioner, Central Tibetan Administration.
"We have been carefully observing and keeping tabs on all the developments. I don't think we stand to provide a response, an official response as such which has never been the case and there has not been a precedent to that," Sharling told CNN-News18.
She said that there is repeated pattern of Chinese aggression on the border, adding, "I think it is all premised on the fact that there is a contested border area and Tibet lies at the very heart of the matter and is perhaps at the core."
As many as 150,000 Tibetan refugees are spread all over the world with a more than a 100,000 in different parts of India. McLeodganj and Dharamshala are home to 14,000 Tibetans while 20,000 live in Nepal, 4,000 in Bhutan and another 50,000 in different countries, including the US.
"Tibet is a dream for us, but India is our reality. What China is doing at the (Doklam) border feels like a second invasion on us," says Tenzin Tsundue, a Tibetan activist.
"The Chinese often say 'Tibet is the palm and Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal are the other fingers'. We have been telling Indians to be wary. Tibetans inside Tibet are the real inspiration for us. They will not allow China what they want to do against India. They are India's first cushion, the first border for India," he added.
Speaking to CNN-News18, Namgail Dolkar, the youngest member of the Tibetan Parliament, said that India is her motherland and Tibet her fatherland. "We can't tolerate China moving towards our motherland. China has been entering and flying over Indian territory. The Indian community deserves to know what is happening. China is taking things for granted. The Indian government should not bow down and should speak against it. We need to speak out."
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