ABC News

Jim Laurie: Your Holiness. You often travel the world to speak of Tibet. You have now come to Taiwan, Chinese soil. Beijing has condemned you for this. Some say you have put Taiwan-Mainland China relations at risk. What do you hope to achieve?

The Dalai Lama: We want to build mutual trust. We want all Chinese wherever they are to hear our message. Then eventually everyone will have the correct awareness. The government in Beijing creates the wrong impression. They create the impression that we Tibetans are anti-Chinese. That's not the case. We are not against China. We are not against Chinese people. We are not against Chinese culture.

In fact, we are trying to develop a mutual trust. So in spite of some momentary noise, in the long run my visit will be beneficial. (laughs)

Laurie: When I visited Tibet in 1981, it seemed to me that the conditions of your people were improving. The Chinese were taking a more liberal approach to religion and Tibetan culture. There was an ongoing dialogue between Chinese government officials and your representatives. Now relations seem at an all-time low. What happened?

Dalai Lama: It is very true, in the early '80s there was real hope. When Hu Yao-bang (the Communist Party Secretary who died in April 1989) visited Lhasa, he publicly admitted mistakes and publicly apologized. So at that time there was real sort of hope.

After Hu Yao-bang's death, as you know, there was the large-scale democratic movement, firstly from the students side, then eventually the democracy movement spread to religion and Tibet. We all know the result in 1989.

Since then, the Chinese government has not only become much tougher on Tibet, but other issues have become much harder ... like Hong Kong and Taiwan.

On Tibet, since August 1993, we have lost the contact we used to have through the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. At the same time, conditions inside Tibet have become much, much worse. In some respects, the Cultural Revolution spirit [the radical Maoist Movement of the 1960s and '70s] seems to have reemerged in certain fields.

But I feel the People's Republic of China is changing, is in the process of changing. I feel it's a question of time. The government sooner or later has to find a more constructive policy. This is my fundamental belief. Already I see signs of some new flexibility. So therefore, in spite of the sad situation in Tibet, I feel no need to change my position. As soon as there is some positive sign from the Chinese government, I'm ready to sit down. I am ready to discuss with the Chinese government on the basis of my middle way approach. That is, I'm not seeking independence. I'm quite sure a solution can be found that will benefit us, and benefit China as well.

Laurie: Beijing accuses you of wanting to "split" the Chinese nation. Do you want "independence" for Tibet?

Dalai Lama: No. No. I wish more spies or more Chinese intelligence people would come to Dharamsala [the Tibetan leaders' home in exile in India]. I think if they checked what we are doing they would know what we are saying, what we are thinking, what we are talking.

Laurie: And you're not speaking of independence?

Dalai Lama: No, no. Of course, historically Tibet is not a part of China. That's also true. And the majority of Tibetan people, not only outside, but even inside, are fed up with Chinese procedures. I think the Chinese government has lost the confidence of people.

But the main thing is: the world is changing. For small nations like Tibet, we need in our own interest, at least in the economic field, to join a big nation, so that we might get good benefits. With these convictions, I made a proposal, the "middle approach." The Chinese want stability and national unity. So do we. If they provide us some genuine self-rule, we are willing to accept and join with them.

Laurie: Recently we have had bomb explosions in Lhasa, Xinjiang, and other regions. Do you worry about such violence?

Dalai Lama: yes. But you see, so far the explosives have only hit objects, like Chinese plaques, buildings. There have been no attacks on human beings. But there is a real danger, to shift, to target human beings, and this would be very terrible. It's not our way to use violence.

Laurie: Of the conditions in Tibet, what worries you most about what is happening now?

Dalai Lama: First, environment and population transfer. Large numbers of Chinese have been transferred into Tibet. With the population transfer, the Tibetan culture heritage is very much in danger. Already now the Tibetan [have] become [a] minority. Also, in daily life they have to use Chinese language rather than Tibetan. So through that way, their whole lifestyle is now changing. Intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of culture change is taking place.

Now this is, for me, the most serious matter, because I feel Tibetan culture .. or Buddhist culture has the potential to create a more human society, a happier family. I believe Tibetan Buddhist culture can help millions of people not only in Tibet, but in Northern Mongolia, in some republics of the Russian federation, and among Chinese as well.

Buddhist culture, at the moment, is facing the danger of extinction. I believe my immediate task or responsibility is to save Tibetan Buddhist culture. The political status: I do not consider it very important.

Laurie: As you know, a number of Americans are followers of Your Holiness. At least two Hollywood films are being made about your life. How do you feel about these films?

Dalai Lama: Of course when some of my friends suggested that films be made on my story, I had doubts. But I was told that the general public will have a better awareness about Tibet, and this will be of benefit. So I agreed. I haven't seen the product, but I do wonder .. who is playing the Dalai Lama? What kind of portrayal? That is my curiosity.

So definitely, I think it's going to be a benefit for the Tibetan issue. I also think the Chinese protest about the film [Chinese officials have denounced particularly the film backed by the Disney Company] helps a lot. It provides more publicity about that film.

Laurie: Do you still hope that you will one day get to Beijing and then return to Tibet?

Dalai Lama: Deep in my mind, I feel my trip to Taiwan is some kind of first step. We must deal with our Chinese brothers and sisters, that's the only way. As a Buddhist, I believe that China needs deep human values. China is an important nation, and in the next century China will be an even more important nation. This big nation, with its long history, big population and economic prosperity, will need more spiritual, more human values. I think they will get it.