China on Tuesday accused the Dalai Lama of seeking to undermine Beijing’s relationship with Delhi through a visit to Arunachal Pradesh, insulating India from direct Chinese wrath over the dispute.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has riled Beijing by arranging a trip next week to the state, parts of which China claims as its own. China has condemned the trip several times and has asked Delhi to stop it from going ahead. But with ties between the two countries strained by a flare-up of disputes over their shared boundary, Beijing apparently hopes to keep its ire over the trip, due to start November 8, from inflaming diplomatic tensions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu repeated earlier criticism of the Dalai Lama for “separatist” activities, but did not condemn Delhi for allowing the trip to go ahead. “The Dalai Lama often lies and often engages in acts to sabotage China’s relations with other countries,” Ma told a news briefing, when asked about the trip. “I am confident that his scheme to wreck China’s relations with the relevant country will come to nothing.”

New Delhi has made it clear that Arunachal Pradesh is an intregal part of India and that the Dalai Lama, who is a state guest, is free to visit any part of the country.

Ma said last month, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and PM Manmohan Singh had agreed to focus on promoting “healthy and stable relations.”