"India's Dalai Dilemma"

Shashi Tharoor, former undersecretary-general of the UN | May 2, 2008

In the face of turmoil in Tibet, India has found itself in a delicate position. ++ As a democracy, India has a tradition of permitting peaceful protest, yet it is also intent on improving Indo-Sino relations and continuing to expand trade with China. ++ "India's government has attempted to draw a distinction between its humanitarian obligations as an asylum country and its political responsibilities as a friend of China." ++ This balancing act will continue as India tries to avoid offending Beijing while respecting democracy at home.