Beijing has reiterated its condemnation of Dalai Lama's visit to a disputed border area in India, saying it indicates the exiled Tibetan leader's anti-Chinese stance.

"China strongly opposes the Dalai Lama's visit" said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Tuesday, adding his trip to the disputed Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh "fully exposed the anti-Chinese nature of the Dalai Lama."

The spokesman said Beijing had "expressed its strong dissatisfaction with India in allowing the Dalai Lama's visit to the disputed area," which began on Sunday after months of rising friction between India and China.

Arunachal Pradesh is one of two disputed border regions claimed by both China and India, who fought a border war in 1962. Tensions have risen in recent months amid reports of troop deployments and minor incursions on both sides.

In October, Beijing warned the Indian side about harming bilateral ties following a trip by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Himalayan state during his election campaign.

China had previously accused the Dalai Lama of seeking to provoke tensions between New Delhi and Beijing by making the week-long visit to the region, calling on Indian officials to cancel the trip.

But India responded to China's demands by saying the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, was an honored guest and free to visit any part of the country.

The Chinese government deems the Dalai Lama as a separatist orchestrating anti-Chinese drives in Tibet, but the spiritual leader insists he is simply seeking more autonomy for the Himalayan region.

MRS/SC/MMA