Choice for Dalai Lama

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.

Editor:Xiong Qu