Published by: World Tibet Network News, Friday, May 17, 1996

By Ole Damkjaer

POLITIKEN (Denmark), 16 May 1996

The Chinese government's representative in Denmark rejects point by point the interpretation of the conflict between China and Tibet that Tibet's leader, the Dalai Lama, has promoted during his visit to Denmark.

The embassy spokesman at China's embassy stresses that China simply does not believe in the Dalai Lama's assurances that he does not want an independent Tibet.

"Alone the fact that he travels around as a so-called leader of a so-called exile government reveals his real intentions" says Wu Quanda who takes care of China's interests while ambassador Zheng Yaowen is away.

The Chinese reaction to Folketinget's [the Danish parliament] Tibet hearing last Monday and the Dalai Lama's statements here in Denmark - which according to Tibet experts have been most obliging toward China - shows that China's stand in the strife is VERY firm.

In a five pages long press release the embassy writes about the Dalai Lama's overture in June 1988, which was the first time the Tibetan leader gave up independence and proposed a Tibetan self-government where foreign and security policy remains on Chinese hands. The 1988 overture is still the basis for the Dalai Lama who later, though, has underscored that he is ready for negotiations "without preconditions".

"The purpose of such a proposal is to change the legal status of Tibet from being a part of China's internal affairs to becoming a relationship resembling "suzerain-independence" and "protectorate". The essence in the proposal is that nothing is new but that what is really in question is a painted version of the allegation that China only has suzerainty - not sovereignty over Tibet. An interpretation that in the end is tantamount to an independence-like autonomy in Tibet. The Chinese government has solemnly declared that "China's sovereignty over Tibet never can be relinquished and that neither independence nor semi-independence nor disguised independence can be realised.""

Submitted by Anders Hojmark Andersen, anders@cybernet.dk