Why China and India are watching the Dalai Lama closely
As he ages, his movements and health are under scrutiny
Not so long ago, the Dalai Lama’s travel schedule was packed. In the six decades after Tibet’s spiritual leader fled to India in 1959, he visited dozens of countries, meeting royalty, religious leaders and four sitting American presidents along the way. Recently, he has slowed down. One reason is his age (he is 88). Covid-19 complicated travel too, as did the penalties exacted on his hosts by China, which considers him a separatist. But while he has not been abroad since 2018, he has committed to keep travelling within India.
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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Treading gingerly”
From the October 28th 2023 edition
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