Himalayan Buddhism as a Strategic Frontline in Sino-Indian Geopolitics

Amid increasing maritime tensions, the real strategic contest between India and China is intensifying in the Himalayas, where influence over Buddhist religious institutions and spiritual succession is being weaponized for geopolitical leverage.

Spirituality and Sovereignty — The Shift in Paradigm

• Militarization of Monasteries: Once centres of meditation, monasteries in regions such as Ladakh, Tawang, and Bhutan are now positioned at the crossroads of national strategy, symbolising a fusion of sacred space with state objectives.
• Reincarnation as Political Legitimacy: The issue of recognizing the next Dalai Lama has transcended spiritual boundaries, becoming a question of sovereignty, with China asserting exclusive authority over the selection process through its 2007 ordinance.
• State-Sanctioned Faith: China has institutionalized Buddhism through bureaucratic tools — including a database of recognized lamas — while repurposing religious diplomacy to consolidate cultural influence across the Himalayan belt.

India's Reactive Posture and Emerging Strategy

• Legacy of Hosting the Dalai Lama: India's hosting of the Dalai Lama since 1959 has provided moral capital, but lacked strategic orientation until recent efforts began to leverage Buddhist diplomacy through pilgrim circuits and heritage promotion.
• Asymmetry in Buddhist Outreach: Unlike China’s centrally coordinated “Buddhist statecraft,” India’s engagement with Buddhist communities remains fragmented and lacks cohesive policy backing despite the region’s strategic importance.
• Dalai Lama Succession Dilemma: The impending succession of the 14th Dalai Lama — expected to be outside China’s territory, likely in India — could lead to dual claimants, risking a deep schism across Tibetan Buddhism and forcing regional actors to align ideologically and politically.

Borderlands, Loyalties, and Soft Power Warfare

• Religious Allegiance and National Identity: In sensitive border regions like Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Sikkim, spiritual legitimacy of high lamas can reinforce or destabilize nationalist sentiments, making monastic loyalty a strategic asset.
• China's Subtle Influence Operations: From infrastructure investments in Lumbini (Nepal) to quiet monastic diplomacy in Bhutan, Beijing is methodically building influence among Himalayan Buddhist communities to align them with its geopolitical interests.
• Proxy Conflicts within Tibetan Buddhism: Internal sectarian rifts, such as the divided Karma Kagyu leadership and the contested Dorje Shugden practice, are being exploited by both powers — turning religious disputes into geopolitical footholds.

Practice Question:

"In the context of Sino-Indian rivalry, discuss how Buddhism is evolving from a cultural-religious tradition into a strategic tool of statecraft in the Himalayas. Examine its implications for India’s borderland diplomacy and regional security architecture."  (250 words)