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In this rally, Narendra Modi stated, “I frequently talk with the Dalai Lama; the Dalai Lama is the being who guides our entire universe,” which, according to some, is an indication that Narendra Modi, may have some positive plans to Tibet with a meeting with His Holiness Dalai Lama seemingly in line. With several exit polls indicating that the BJP and its NDA alliance will once again form the government, some even go as far as mentioning that the incumbent Prime Minister would invite the Dalai Lama for his oath to office ceremony. Tibetans in the past have been invited, with the then Sikyong (President) and Kalon (Minister) of the Tibetan Government in Exile Lobsang Sangay la and Gyari Dolma la both attending the oath to office ceremony of 2014.

Narendra Modi has already met the Dalai Lama when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat; however, he has yet to meet him since assuming the role of Prime Minister.

Since the BJP’s formation as a separate political party in the 1980s, it has had two Prime Ministers: Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi. The former frequently met with the Dalai Lama even during his tenure as Prime Minister of India. The Dalai Lama stated, “His eloquent support of the Tibetan people began in the late 1950s. Since then, he regularly took Indian governments to task in parliament, prompting them to take a stronger stand on Tibet,” highlighting the firm support that Atal Bihari Vajpayee had towards Tibet and the Tibetan people.
There are various movements and instances indicating that a possible meeting between Narendra Modi and the Dalai Lama is on the cards:

1. Narendra Modi and the Dalai Lama attended the same event last year; the Global Buddhist Summit organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), with the former being the Chief Guest on the 1st Day and the latter being the Chief Guest on the 2nd Day. They were so close yet did not meet, most likely due to pressure from Beijing in my opinion. However, with India advancing and taking great strides forward, including positioning itself towards achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, there will come a time when Beijing will not be able to pressure New Delhi anymore.
2. Furthermore, Narendra Modi has frequently been publicly wishing the Dalai Lama on his birthday through his social media handles in the last few years.
3. In December 2021, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), with its Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and National Executive Indresh Kumar (founder of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch), met the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala. Considering the strong and firm linkages between RSS and BJP, there is a high possibility of the BJP leadership including Narendra Modi also meeting the Dalai Lama.

 
The Indian National Congress (INC) the other national political party of India that has formed the government several time, has had its leaders including its Prime Ministers, meeting with the Dalai Lama. One can refer to FNVA’s recent policy brief ‘2024 Election: Tibet in INC’s Election Manifesto’ for more detail on this.
With the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh going to the polls several notable Indian political leaders have arrived to Dharamshala and met the Dalai Lama recently. Many of them also had events with the Tibetan publics, where both the BJP and INC (from the NDA and India Alliance respectively) engaged with the Tibetans in Dharmshala in the lead up to the election.

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Three critical days for Tibet-Taiwan relations, from Saturday last week to Monday, culminated in a historic participation of a Tibetan delegation led by Kalon Norzin Dolma and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile Dolma Tsering at the inauguration ceremony of President William Lai (賴清德) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) in Taipei.

Saturday last week marked the 29th anniversary of the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama. A news conference organized by the Human Rights Network for Taiwan and Tibet (HRNTT), addressed by Zeekyab Rinpoche, the abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, alongside Dolma and Tsering, highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the Panchen Lama’s disappearance at age six by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, earning him the unwanted title of the world’s youngest political prisoner.

On Sunday last week, the Tibetan delegation attended the Saga Dawa Festival in Taipei, celebrating Tibetan history and culture. The event, organized by the HRNTT and other organizations, took place at the Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Research Institute, a site emblematic of Taiwan’s democratic heritage. It featured speeches from Taiwanese dignitaries such as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) and Fu Jen Catholic University professor Wu Hao-ren (吳豪人), fostering deeper connections between the Tibetan and Taiwanese communities.

The same day, the delegation met Hsiao. The Tibetan Parliament in Exile later on Facebook said: “We were able to relay our thoughts for deepening support from the Taiwanese government to Tibet.”

Hsiao, known for her support of Tibet, played a pivotal role in setting up the initial Taiwan Parliamentary Group for Tibet.

These events set the stage for the inauguration ceremony on Monday last week. Dolma and Tsering attended as VIP guests, alongside other foreign delegations as honored guests. This marked the first time in recent memory that an official Tibetan delegation received such an honor.

On the same day, the 11th Taiwan Parliamentary Group for Tibet was inaugurated, moderated and led by Hung. Discussions centered on strengthening support for Tibet and its people, with members of the government also being part of the landmark event.

These events underscore an accelerated mutual recognition between Taiwan and the Tibetan government-in-exile, particularly in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. This period has seen more Tibetan delegations invited to Taiwan and several Taiwanese delegations visiting Dharamshala, India. Notably, last year, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and Hung visited Dharamshala, and Dolma also met with then-minister of foreign affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮).

The absence of official Indian representation at the inauguration event, likely an attempt to avoid antagonizing China during India’s general election, further highlights the significance of Tibetan representatives.

Tibetans and Taiwanese advocate for peace with China, adhering to their guiding principles for conflict resolution, championing democracy as the way ahead and preserving their unique identities.

Under Lai and Hsiao, Taiwan-Tibet relations appear promising. Many Tibetan students from India are opting to study in Taiwan of late, laying the foundations for a robust relationship. Organizations like the HRNTT and the Office of Tibet in Taiwan play pivotal roles in strengthening these ties. Under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), Beijing remains wary of these developments. Despite historical challenges, the cooperative efforts between Taiwan and Tibet signal a promising future that must be nurtured.

This article was originally published on May 26th 2024, in the Taipei Times.

Click on the link to access the original Op-Ed
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2024/05/26/2003818395

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