India, July 25 -- China has mastered the art of information warfare. We saw it during the Doklam episode. Though caught on the wrong foot on the ridge at the border of Sikkim and Bhutan, the Chinese spokespersons managed to convince many Indian scribes of the validity of a defunct 1890 Convention between the Manchus and British India. More recently, the Dalai Lama was the victim of Chinese propaganda. For the purpose, Beijing used some Indian journalists, "inviting" them to Tibet for a trip to "see the facts" for themselves.

On their return, one of the correspondents, quoting the Chinese authorities, wrote: "The successor of the Dalai Lama has to be decided within China and any interference by India on the issue will impact bilateral tie...