Sikkim shares border with Tibet, not directly with China, clarifies DT Lepcha

Rajya Sabha MP from Sikkim, D.T. Lepcha, has said that the state shares its border with Tibet and not directly with China. He made this statement while speaking to media persons, underlining the need for historical and geographical clarity when referring to India’s borders in the eastern Himalayan region.

Lepcha pointed out that Sikkim has traditionally shared a border with the region known as Tibet, which for centuries maintained a distinct identity before its political integration into the People's Republic of China. “It is essential that we acknowledge historical facts. Geographically, Sikkim shares its border with Tibet, not with mainland China,” he said.

This clarification comes at a time when discussions surrounding international borders, national security, and regional identity have been gaining renewed attention across the country. Shri Lepcha emphasized that such distinctions are not merely technical but deeply connected to the identity and historical context of the region.

“We must be accurate when we speak about our borders, especially in a sensitive region like the northeast. Referring to the Indo-Tibet border is historically correct and aligns with the traditional understanding of boundaries that have existed long before modern political changes,” the MP said.