by Hua Zi

China's Tibet, January/February 1998

When President Jiang Zemin gave a lecture in Harvard University last November 1, some members of the audience asked about negotiations between the Chinese government and the 14th Dalai Lama. He replied: "The Central Government is willing to negotiate with the Dalai Lama so long as he can genuinely relinquish his stand for 'Tibetan independence', stop working to split the motherland, publicly state that Tibet is an inseparable part of China, and admit that the Central Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of the whole people of China." Contacts with the 14th Dalai Lama have a complicated background. But has there been any progress? What efforts has the government made to contact the 14th Dalai Lama? And, are there any obstacles in the way of meaningful negotiations?

This writer, who has followed events for years, offers the following review of the contacts made in the past decade.

On January 28, 1989, when the 10th Panchen Erdeni died of a heart attack, the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) wrote to the 14th Dalai Lama inviting him to return for the memorial activities. BAC President Zhao Puchu personally delivered the letter to the 14th Dalai, Lama's private representative and sincerely invited him to return. If the 14th Dalai Lama had any intention to contact the Central Government, this was a perfect opportunity. Unfortunately, he refused the invitation and lost an historical opportunity. In June 1989, Beijing was hit by student riots. In the same year, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the 14th Dalai Lama. These events turned his head and he began predicting that China was highly likely to collapse, like the Soviet Union, within three to five years. He thought the Chinese government was unstable, so there was no need to negotiate with it then. At the press conference after the award ceremony, he said: "My winning this prize is good for realization of an independent Tibet." Ag

ainst his expectations, China remains stable and enjoys economic development. In view of this, the 14th Dalai Lama did then propose resuming contacts with the Central Government. In an interview with Xinhua News Agency on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet in May 1991, Premier Li Peng painted a rosy picture when asked about the government's future plans for the economic and social development of Tibet. "In the future, the Central Government will, as always, seek economic and cultural development in Tibet; adopt more policies to improve the life of the Tibetans; continue to mobilize people of all nationalities in China to aid Tibet; and give full support to Tibet's effort to implement the Eighth Five-Year Plan and the 10-Year Development Program. "The State Council has earmarked I billion yuan over 10 years to undertake comprehensive development of the Three-River Valley area in Tibet. The Yamzhog Yumeo Pump Storage Power Station, expansion of airports and roads, and some othe

r energy and communication projects are listed as major state projects. This is aimed at enabling Tibet to be like other parts of China in building socialism with distinct Chinese characteristics and working for joint development.

II

When asked whether the government had changed its policy toward the 14th Dalai Lama, the Chinese premier said it had always been consistent and unchanged. "We have one fundamental principle, which is: Tibet is an inseparable part of China. This brooks no bargaining. The Central Government is willing to talk to the Dalai Lama, but he must stop carrying out activities aimed at splitting the motherland and change his stand for 'Tibetan independence'. Everything is negotiable except for 'Tibetan independence'. "The Central Government ventured to contact private delegates of the 14th Dalai Lama ever since the advent of the 1980s, and strove to contact him again in 1992 and 1993, but he unilaterally suspended further contacts on the excuse that the Central Government held a rigid attitude. On April 29, 1994, the People's Daily carried a statement made by a spokesman with the CPC United Front Work Department during an interview with the Xinhua reporters. He said: "Both sides failed to reach agreement on the fact th

at 'Tibet is an inseparable part of China'. The 14th Dalai Lama called this fundamental principle a ,precondition and obstacle to negotiations'. "This fundamental principle is by no means either a precondition or an obstacle. On the contrary, it is the basis for negotiations and the surest guarantee for their success. This is what the 14th Dalai Lama calls the I rigid attitude' of the Central Government." In 1995, the reincarnation procedures for the late 10th Panchen Erdeni entered its decisive stage after efforts made in the previous six years. At the time when lamas with the Tashilhungpo Monastery were considering the located soul boy candidates, the 14th Dalai Lama suddenly announced in India that a Tibetan child was the reincarnated soul boy. He did so to oppose the Central Government, which enjoys the highest authority in confirming the soul boy. As a self-styled religious leader, however, the 14th Dalai Lama defied religious rituals needed for confirmation of a soul boy as well as historical precedenc

e. He did so to serve his political aim of splitting the motherland. Years ago, the 14th Dalai Lama left no stone unturned to gain the removal of a statue of a Buddhist guardian. This touched off public discontent ,among Tibetans residing outside China. Many asked: Since the 14th Dalai Lama styles himself to be the 11 all-knowing Goddess of Mercy", for what reason is he against the statue of a Buddhist guardian? As a matter of fact, this was merely a political ploy. In March 1997, when the 14th Dalai Lama planned to visit Taiwan, the Central Government managed to inform him of its stand and principle and wished he give up contacts with "Taiwanese independence" forces. But he turned a deaf ear to this advice. Statistics show the 14th Dalai Lama has in the past few years failed to reveal his stand and viewpoints to the Central Government, while still publicly insisting he wants to negotiate. In previous contacts, the Central Government repeatedly stressed that it was willing to negotiate so long as the 14th Da

lai Lama can genuinely relinquish his stand for "Tibetan independence", stop working to split the motherland, publicly state that Tibet is an inseparable part of China, and admit that the Central Government the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representative of the whole people of China. In response, the 14th Dalai Lama made proposals and suggestions for "the settlement of the Tibetan issue They include special treatment as enjoyed by Hong Kong and Taiwan and establishment of the so-called

1. Great Tibet autonomous region" encompassing Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansti and Yunnan. Recently, he also proposed "a high degree of autonomy" for Tibet, which appears to be his way of showing he has given up the idea of independence. But a thorough study of the proposal shows that he has changed his tactics by taking two, instead of one, steps toward "Tibetan independence." As the first step, he strives to win "a high degree of autonomy", to be followed by "Tibetan independence". This analysis is correct because the 14th Dalai Lama and his clique have never given up their efforts to split the motherland. In the 1960s and the 1970s, with the aid and support from international anti-China forces, they conducted military harassment in border areas. In the late 1980s, they incited riots in Lhasa. In recent years, the 14th Dalai Lama has travelled here and there to preach the goal of "Tibetan independence". But the 14th Dalai Lama has his own worries, including:

* China enjoys a stable situation and rapid high economic growth. Its international status has been enhanced and its political influence expanded. It has improved its relations with the United States; and some countries in the European Union have readjusted their policies toward China. Under this situation, the 14th Dalai Lama worries that his interests will be neglected.

* People in Tibet enjoy a better life, and most of them yearn for prolonged stability. Hence, the Tibetan separatists find it hard to incite riots to force the Central Government to make further concessions.

* Tibetans residing abroad are locked in an increasingly sharpening conflict. While the 14th Dalai Lama wants to tighten control of them, they fight to free themselves from his control. These developments force the 14th Dalai Lama to readjust his policy. While he works to mislead public opinion, it and his supporters mislead him sometimes. My conclusion is that the 14th Dalai Lama suspended his contact with the Central Government when he thought the international situation was in his favor, and demanded them again when he thought the international situation was moving against him. This is why he has never given up his separatist activities in Tibet and in the international arena.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE

* President Jiang Zemin says: "The Central Government is willing to negotiate with the Dalai Lama so long as he can genuinely give up his stand for "Tibetan independence", stop working to split the motherland, publically state that Tibet is an inseparable part of China, and admit that the Central Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole people of China."

* Premier Li Peng says: "The Central Government follows consistent policy toward the Dalai Lama. The policy has not changed. We have one fundamental principle, which is: Tibet is an inseparable part of China. This principle brooks no bargaining. The Central Government is willing to contact the Dalai Lama, but the Dalai Lama must stop carrying out activities geared to split the motherland and change his stand for 'Tibetan independence'. Everything could be negotiated except for 'Tibetan independence'."

Result. The Central Government had contacts with the private delegate of the 14th Dalai Lama ever since the advent of the 1980s, and stove to contact him again in 1992 and 1993. The 14th Dalai Lama, however, unilaterally suspended the contact with the Central Government simply because he could not give up his stand for "Tibetan independence." Facts show that the 14th Dalai Lama suspended his contact with the Central Government when he thought the international situation was in his favor; he demanded negotiations with the Central Government when he thought the international situation was not in his favor.