China said on Tuesday there was no change in its policy on the Dalai Lama and demanded that the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader end all ”separatist” activities and recognise Beijing as the sole government of China, including Tibet.
Comments by foreign ministry representative Kong Quan appeared to quash hopes that a Sunday meeting in Lhasa between the Dalai Lama’s special envoy and senior officials from the Beijing-backed Tibetan regional government signalled warming ties between the two sides.
”There is no change (in policy),” Kong said.
”As long as the Dalai Lama stops his separatist activities and recognises that Tibet is an inalienable part of China, that Taiwan is also a part of China and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing China… then we can have talks with the Dalai Lama,” he said.
The three pre-conditions refer to a policy on opening up dialogue with the exiled Tibetan government based in Dharamsala, India, set by Chinese President Jiang Zemin in 1997.
Although the Dalai Lama has verbally committed himself to all of China’s preconditions, Beijing has cited ”insincerity” in his statements, as it has repeatedly refused to reopen dialogue cut off unilaterally by Beijing in 1993.
Beijing has been increasingly incensed with the Dalai Lama’s activities on the international stage in publicizing the plight of Tibet.
Kong’s comments came after Leg Qog, chairman of the Tibet regional government, held an hour-long talk with the Dalai Lama’s special envoy to the United States, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, on Sunday.
Leg Qog told journalists he informed Gyari of the changes and economic development in Tibet in the past 50 years and said Gyari, who has not seen Tibet in decades, was impressed.
Representative Kong on Tuesday reiterated that Gyari and his four-member delegation were on a private visit to meet with relatives and tour the region.
”It is true the Tibetan compatriots in a personal capacity have returned to China and returned to Tibet and Tibetan inhabited areas for visits with their families and to tour,” he said.
”In Tibet the leaders of Tibetan Autonoumous Region briefed the visiting guests on the economic and social development of Tibet. This is only normal.”
Leg Qog also told reporters on Monday that the Chinese government plans to spend over 90-billion yuan (about $10,8-billion) in Tibet during the country’s 10th five-year plan period (2001-2005).
The Dalai Lama’s exiled government in Dharamsala, India, last week also welcomed China’s overture, but expressed concerns that too much press attention to Gyari’s visit could hinder progress toward a hoped-for dialogue with Beijing.
Western governments, as well as the European Parliament and the US Congress, have strongly urged Beijing to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama in an effort to return the popular Buddhist leader to his homeland.
The Tibetan Information Network (TIN) human rights group has described Gyari’s trip as having the potential to bring about important changes in the relationship between the two sides.
”The visit could be highly significant, since there has been no formal contact between the Dalai Lama and Beijing since the summer of 1993 when contact was suspended,” TIN said in a statement on Saturday.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after an abortive uprising in 1959 and established a government-in-exile.
China, which has ruled Tibet since 1951, has been accused of trying to wipe out its Buddhist-based culture through political and religious repression and a flood of ethnic Chinese immigration. – Sapa-AFP