(TibetanReview.net, Sep11’26) – Tibetans staged a protest rally in the local area of their Samyeling community in Delhi on Sep 11, the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival for the 18th BRICS summit in the Indian capital. China had requested visas for Xi’s delegation on Aug 27, but on Sep 10 morning refused to say whether Xi would make the visit, only to confirm later in the day his impending arrival on Sep 12 afternoon.
The Tibetan parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) and some of the Tibetan organizations in Dharamshala, the exile Tibetan headquarters, welcomed Xi’s visit as an opportunity for improving ties between the two Asian giants. And they have demanded that Xi use the opportunity of his visit to take steps towards resolving the longstanding Tibet dispute, directed at granting genuine autonomy to the Tibetan homeland.
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), which campaigns for Tibet’s independence, however, opposes Xi visit and has vowed to protest during his stay. The Sep 11 morning event, involving 200 members from 20 of its regional chapters across India, was their first. TYC Vice President Tashi Targyal called the protest a defence of Tibetan identity and a moral imperative.
In a statement for the occasion, TYC called on India and other BRICS countries to directly address the Tibetan issue with the Chinese delegation during bilateral and multilateral sessions.
At the same time, Dolma Tsering, Speaker of the TPiE, while welcoming the BRICS summit, urged President Xi to “set his house in order” before seeking to lead global harmony and unity. “When you deny freedom to people to keep their identity, how can you expect to keep the world order and be a global leadership?” the ANI news service Sep 11 quoted her as saying.
She has criticized China’s policies on ethnic unity as being directed at the “erasure and assimilation” of Tibetan culture and identity.
Calling India a land of unity and diversity, she has said Xi should learn from New Delhi’s approach to different cultures, languages, and faiths.
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Xi is arriving at 12.10 pm on Sep 12 and departing on 12.20 pm next day. He will be accompanied by a 67-member government delegation, including political heavyweight and Xi’s right-hand man Cai Qi – member of the standing committee of the CPC Politburo – and foreign minister Wang Yi. A business delegation is arriving separately, reported the timesofindia.com Sep 11.
Xi will attend the BRICS summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from Sep 12 to 13 and have a bilateral with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sep 12 evening, the report said, citing diplomatic sources.
Special security measures have been put in place for President Xi, who will land at Palam Air Force Station and stay in the Taj hotel.
Security and traffic arrangements have been kept on high alert along the entire route from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to Bharat Mandapam, the report said.