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The choice for Dalai Lama

By Yi Yan | Xinhua

The Summer Beijing Olympic Games is drawing near to us, and the curtain of the world-focusing gala sports party will be pulled in about a month’s time. I think that it is very possible that after the Olympic Games, Dalai Lama will fade in influence in the eyes of the Western countries. What the West cares about is not only the growing economic power of China, but also the increasing political and diplomatic influence of this Oriental dynamic country. It is safe to say that China counts much more, in comparison with Dalai Lama, in anyone’s mind.

China’s central government is now willing to hold talks with him. I strongly suggest that Dalai Lama ought to grasp this chance, and respond positively towards the central government. If he continues to put on another political show on the world stage, the chance is likely to slip away. We have listened to what he has spoken lately, including those “soft speeches”, but his faithfulness is questionable. Therefore, if the Dalai Lama really cares about this chance of negotiation with the central government, he needs to make up his mind, and trade good with good in action.

I am bewildered by Dalai Lama’s recent speeches and political shows, which makes me quite suspicious of and not sure of his true intentions. If the Dalai Lama wrongly gauges the support the West gives him, and takes for granted the good intentions of the Chinese central government, or tries to seek a prey that is beyond reason, or even encourage and instigate his radical Tibetan followers to engage in violence, once again, Beijing will surely be enraged. Under that circumstance, it will force the central government to give up on him, once and all. There exists such advocacy in the central government now.

What to talk with Dalai Lama?

By Yi Gu

Seems a new round of talks between the Beijing central government and the Dalai Lama will start soon. Then, what are the topics on the table? Is it the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, of course NOT.

The reason is simple. Dalai is a Buddhist lama, his past political status was based on the system of theocracy. The system, in which a society is ruled by a priest or monk who represent a god, has been abolished in Tibet long before. So if one is going to discuss with a monk the position and future of Tibet, and destiny of Tibetan people, doesn’t that give an impression that China will allow theocracy to resume in Tibet?

Tibet is an autonomous region of China, and representing it is the government of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The 14th Dalai Lama has set up an “exile regime” in Dharmsala, India, and he claims to be the leader of the exile regime. The fact is that not a single state in the world today admits the legitimacy of Dalai Lama’s exile government in Dharmsala. If the central government is going to discuss the position, future of Tibet, and destiny of Tibetan people, doesn’t that give an impression that Dharmasala exile regime is legitimate?

Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years, but Tibet’s success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama. He by no means can represent Tibet or the Tibetan people now. So, China’s central government is not going to discuss with Dalai Lama the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, but only the future and destiny of Dalai Lama himself.

Last Opportunity for Dalai Lama

By Yi Yan

The 14th Dalai Lama is running out of opportunities. And that’s why he is using the Beijing Olympics as his last straw. But could he really make the best use of this opportunity? Some Westerners are providing Dalai Lama with badly-needed guidance and support, which shed light on why he frequented Western countries in a rush. However, there are vast differences in the interest of those Westerners’ and Dalai’s, which can be seen through the fact that Dalai has been given a cold shoulder by the West from time to time in the past decades.

Therefore Dalai should tell the difference in interests and stop binding himself to certain political forces, which will lead to his loss of opportunities. Judging from the current situation, Dalai Lama is losing his most important opportunities on mending ties with the Chinese central government.

Of course, it remained to be seen whether Dalai Lama still has any power and influence to muster, without the support of some political forces in the West.

What to negotiate with Dalai Lama?

By Lao Lin

To most people, no matter in the old Tibet or in Dharmsala today, where Tibetan government-in-exile locates, Dalai Lama is both a political and a religious figure. Although Dalai himself frequently refers to the "government-in-exile" as a "democratic government", he has never denied he is the political leader. But it does not make any sense at all to compare theocracy to a democratic system. If it did, people would assume he either lacks or ignore common sense.

Theocracy was abolished in Tibet. This is the reason why Dalai left Lhasa in 1959, and it is also the result of his absence.

Tibet is an autonomous region, so the Tibetan autonomous government is the only legal government to represent Tibet, not that government-in-exile.

Therefore, to negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future. Because he is not able to represent neither Tibet nor Tibetan on any legal grounds, and China will never consent to negotiate with him when he claims himself as the political figure of the "government-in-exile". I am not sure whether Dalai is clear about this or not.

By Jin Canrong

Following the March 14 riots in Lhasa, the central government held a meeting with the Dalai Lama’s representatives on his request on May 4. Some officials of central government departments will meet the personal representatives of the Dalai Lama again early this month. The central authorities have maintained a constant and clear policy towards the Dalai Lama.

It is hoped that the Dalai side cherish this opportunity, see the situation clearly, and take concrete measures to build the foundation for future dialogue.

The Dalai Lama appears to be more interested in fanning up international pressure on China than in talking seriously with the central government of China. The Olympics has been used by some Westerners as a means to “liberate Tibet from China” through intense media propaganda.

Since 2002, six rounds of discussion have taken place between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the central government.

But the Dalai Lama’s concept of “high-level” or “maximum” autonomy cannot possibly be accommodated within the Chinese Constitution.

His demand for “Greater Tibet” or “one administrative entity” means breaking up Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces, and causing enormous disruption and damage to China’s society and political system.

Such a demand is ruled out, as any comparable demand to break up states in any country would be.

Tibet has been part of China since the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century and there is no country in the world that has ever recognized Tibet as an independent state.

China’s sovereignty over Tibet is indisputable from the standpoint of international law. China is the only nation that has been capable of ensuring human rights by eradicating poverty and improving the living standards of millions of people.

We should not only hear what the Dalai lama says, but also see what he dose. Only when the Dalai Lama truly stops the plots to split Tibet from China and to sabotage the Olympic Games is he qualified to talk about sincerity.

It is high time the Dalai Lama got real about the future of Tibet, and engaged in a sincere dialogue with the Chinese central government to find a reasonable, and sustainable political solution within the framework of one China.

Copyright © 2008 Xinhua News Agency

Published in Xinhua.net