China to US: India a 'lesser power', not an equal

India and China are in the middle of a spat resulting from a mix of bad timing and unusual Indian assertiveness over the Dalai Lama’s place in the religious pantheon here, as well as a new determination to pursue its economic interests in the South China seas. The Sino-Indian boundary talks, scheduled between national security advisor Shiv Shanker Menon and his Chinese counterpart, Dai Bingguo, have been cancelled. That was after Beijing demanded that Delhi scrap a Buddhist conference at which the Dalai Lama was expected to be a chief guest. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China “opposed any country that provided a platform to the Dalai Lama and his activities”.

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