India and China Compete for Influence Through Buddhism

Source: The post India and China Compete for Influence Through Buddhism has been created, based on the article “China, India and the conflict over Buddhism” published in “The Hindu” on 23rd July 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Context: Amid growing naval competition between India and China, a subtler yet crucial contest is unfolding in the Himalayas. This struggle is not over resources or territory, but over spiritual authority in Himalayan Buddhism, which has become central to identity and geopolitical influence in the region.

Buddhism as a Strategic Asset

1. From Spirituality to Strategy: Monasteries in the Himalayas, once focused on meditation and learning, are now entangled in geopolitical strategies. Both nations recognise that control over Buddhism equates to influence over borderland identities.
2. China’s Control-Oriented Approach: Since the 1950s, China has sought dominance over Tibetan religious institutions. It has exiled lamas, taken over monasteries, and declared itself the authority on reincarnations. In 2007, it mandated state approval for all “Living Buddhas,” signaling that religious legitimacy flows from the Communist Party.
3. Buddhism as Statecraft in China: Beijing has intensified efforts with a state-run database of reincarnated lamas, surveillance of monasteries, and an expanding Buddhist diplomacy campaign. It funds shrines, sends invitations to monks, and subtly shifts local loyalties toward China.

India’s Late Realisation and Response

1. Initial Moral Posture, Minimal Strategy: India’s long-standing hosting of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile gave it moral weight but little strategic leverage. Engagement with Buddhism remained passive until the last decade.
2. Recent Diplomatic Initiatives: India has started promoting its Buddhist heritage through pilgrimage circuits and cultural diplomacy. However, these efforts remain piecemeal and lack China’s centralised, long-term vision.
3. Buddhist Diplomacy vs. Buddhist Statecraft: While India uses Buddhism as a soft diplomacy tool, China integrates it deeply into its state machinery, gaining more traction in shaping regional influence.

The Dalai Lama Succession Crisis

1. Impending Dual Succession: The Dalai Lama, now 90, intends to reincarnate outside China—likely in India. China, however, will appoint its own Dalai Lama using the historical “Golden Urn” method.
2. A Looming Schism: This could create two rival Dalai Lamas, forcing Himalayan communities to choose sides. A spiritual leader based in India may strengthen allegiance to New Delhi, while one seated in Lhasa could pull loyalties eastward.
3. Geopolitical Impact of Succession: This divide could influence border regions like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nepal, and Bhutan, altering the political balance based on religious reverence.

Proxy Conflicts in Monastic Disputes

1. Internal Splits as Strategic Openings: Disputes within Buddhist sects, such as the two Karmapas in the Karma Kagyu school, have become proxy conflicts between India and China. Both nations support different claimants.
2. China’s Use of Marginal Sects: China also supports ostracised groups like the Dorje Shugden sect to weaken the Dalai Lama’s authority in exile.
3. Spiritual Authority and Border Stability: India’s key challenge is to ensure that Buddhist communities, especially in regions like Ladakh, remain aligned with Indian nationalism rather than Chinese-backed religious lines.

High-Stakes Soft Power Struggle

1. Monasteries as Political Ground: In regions with limited physical access, soft power becomes hard power. A monastery’s allegiance can decide control over a district.
2. The Global Ramifications: After the Dalai Lama’s passing, the succession issue may prompt international Buddhist communities to pick sides, escalating diplomatic tensions globally.
3. The True Geopolitical Stage: The Indo-Pacific may draw attention, but the decisive theatre of India-China rivalry lies in the Himalayan highlands, where spiritual symbolism masks a deeper strategic contest.

Question for practice:

Discuss how the India-China rivalry is shaping the future of Himalayan Buddhism.