Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Dorjee Tshering Lepcha has renewed his call for the central government to officially recognise the boundary between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region as the “Indo-Tibet border”, instead of the commonly used “Indo-China border.” Citing historical and geopolitical concerns, Lepcha emphasized the need to reflect Tibet’s distinct identity in India’s official communications and policy narratives.During a visit to the border village of Machong in Sikkim on Saturday, Lepcha told reporters that the issue was not new and had already been raised by him during the 2024 Monsoon and 2025 Budget Sessions of Parliament. “This is not the China border—it is the Tibet border,” he reiterated. “I have urged the Centre to instruct its agencies, including the Indian Army and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), to use the correct term: Indo-Tibet border.”
Lepcha’s remarks echo a growing sentiment in Indian political and civil society circles that Tibet’s historical and cultural identity should be acknowledged, particularly in light of China’s increasing attempts to consolidate control over Tibetan religious and political institutions. The annexation of Tibet by China in the 1950s continues to be a contentious issue, both diplomatically and emotionally, for Tibetans and their supporters around the world.Highlighting the broader resonance of the issue, Lepcha also referred to a recent statement by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who had similarly asserted that the border in Arunachal is with Tibet, not China. “This growing recognition from various quarters shows that the time has come to revisit our terminology and acknowledge the reality of history and the aspirations of the Tibetan people,” Lepcha said.
The MP’s comments come just days after the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama on July 6, an event that has reignited global discussions on the future of Tibet and its leadership. During the celebrations, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed that only his institution has the authority to determine his reincarnation. “In accordance with past tradition, the search for my reincarnation and the naming of a 15th Dalai Lama will be carried out,” he said in a video message.This statement was welcomed by global rights advocates, including Tashi Tsering, Secretary-General of the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan (HRNTT). “His Holiness’ declaration is a powerful rebuttal to Beijing’s ongoing claims,” Tsering said, adding, “Only the Dalai Lama and his spiritual tradition have the authority to choose his successor—not the Chinese Communist Party.”