Chinese expert slams Indian bid to open Tibet consulate

India's proposal to open a consulate in the Tibetan capital Lhasa has come under criticism, with a Chinese expert on South Asia alleging that the move was motivated more by political rather than economic interests.

"The Indian government hopes to closely watch, observe, and infiltrate the Tibetan area after the opening of a Lhasa consulate," Zhao Gancheng, director of South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies told state-run Global Times.

He charged India's proposal is motivated by politics more than economic interests in this case.

"The issue regarding Tibet is an internal affair and we won't tolerate any external forces imposing a negative impact on the situation in Tibet," he said.

According to the daily, the relationship between the two nations deteriorated shortly after China shut down the Indian mission in Lhasa after the break out of the 1962 border conflict.

The daily also carried an article titled 'India still maintaining double standards towards exiled Tibetans', accusing New Delhi of following a two-track policy on Tibet -- supporting separatists on one hand while recognising the region as part of China on the other.

It warned that exiled Tibetans may be a "hidden danger" to India's own stability in future.