Published by: World Tibet Network News Sunday, November 23, 1997

Source: `Chung Kuo Shih Pao', Taipei, in Chinese 17 Nov 97 pA9

In an interview conducted in India with a Taiwanese newspaper, the Dalai Lama spoke of his impression of Taiwan, and said he had no plans to visit Taiwan again himself in the near future. On the recent Sino-US summit, the Dalai Lama said he was sure that Tibet was discussed but was not yet aware of the results. He reiterated his position that any stalemate in relations with Beijing was a "problem on communist China's side" and that obstacles on his own side "had been eliminated" . The following are excerpts from an interview published by the Taiwanese newspaper `Chung Kuo Shih Pao' on 17th November; subheadings as published:

Dharamsala, India: The Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader who shoulders the heavy responsibility of leading exiled Tibetans back to their homeland, visited Taiwan in March this year. Eight months later, the Dalai Lama's office in Taiwan (that is, the office of the exiled Tibetan government in Taiwan) will soon be formally opened. Exchanges between Taiwan and exiled Tibetans have become increasingly friendly...

As for something relevant to exiled Tibetans, the Dalai Lama said that he had never worried that his parinirvana [passing away] would occur before the destiny of exiled Tibetans has changed. He believed that he could live at least 20 or 30 years longer. In addition, he was confident that the Tibetan issue would see a turn for the better in two or three years. The full content of the exclusive interview is as follows:

[Lin] I have a strong feeling that after your visit to Taiwan, Tibetans have shown a great change in their attitude towards Taiwan. Many people, when they know that I am a reporter from Taiwan, immediately treat me as a friend. Please tell me how you introduced Taiwan to the Tibetans?

Disputes and troubles between Taiwan and Tibet will become fewer and fewer

[Dalai Lama] When Tibetans went to Taiwan in the past, people would call them traitors, saying that they had betrayed the interests of the Tibetans. I did not go to Taiwan as a traitor because Taiwan people were very fond of Buddhism and they really liked me. The reporters were very friendly to me. The president and the vice-president were very friendly to me. They were very friendly to the Tibetans. Therefore, disputes and troubles between Taiwan and Tibet will certainly be reduced in the future. This is the way I explain it to the people.

Meanwhile, cultural and economic levels are very high in Taiwan. Under this circumstance, people show interest in religion. This is a very good phenomenon...

[Q] When you were in Taiwan, you said that you would like to visit Taiwan again. Do you have any plan to go there in the near future?

[A] (pondering) I don't have a fixed plan. But it will be good to introduce Buddhism by visiting. I hope that I will have an opportunity to preach Buddhism to people in Taiwan in the future. I hope that I will have an opportunity to promote Buddhism.

[Q] When Taiwan celebrated its national day on 10th October, your brother Gyalo Thondup, as the leader of the "Tibetan delegation", led some Tibetans to participate in the National Day celebrations. Did you know about this matter beforehand? As far as Taiwan-Tibet relations are concerned, do you think the visit of the delegation had any significance?

[A] I did not know beforehand that Gyalo Thondup was going to Taiwan. That was his personal affair.

[Q] Now that you know, what is your opinion about it?

[A] Some people said it was good. Some other people said it was not good. It is hard to say (ha ha)!

[Q] The Tibetan government-in-exile will soon establish an office in Taiwan. Could you tell me in concrete terms what role you would like this office to play?

A statement will soon be published on how the donations collected in Taiwan are used

[A] First of all, I believe that ties between Taiwan and Tibet have long existed. But such ties were only beneficial to a small number of Tibetan people, not to Tibet as a whole. Such ties had even caused negative opinions from some Tibetans. Therefore, if ties between [Tibet] and Taiwan are normalized in the future, the assistance that we receive from Taiwan will be known to all. In the future, every dollar spent by Taiwan people will be beneficial to the Tibetans. Taiwan spends money and gains reputation. In addition, it will gain a favourable impression among the Tibetans. Therefore, I particularly chose a person who would understand the situation in Taiwan and would introduce Tibet's situation to the people of Taiwan.

Secondly, more efforts should be made to promote exchanges in religious and cultural circles. For example, we will invite Chinese scholars, high priests and nuns to introduce Buddhism in Tibetan society while Tibetan scholars can go to Taiwan. Buddhist scriptures can also be translated from Tibetan into Chinese and vice-versa. Such cultural and religious exchanges will be strengthened in the future.

[Q] Kezang Takla has been chosen to head the Taiwan office. She is a woman. Could you explain why she has been chosen?

[A] Kezang Takla has worked for the Office of Tibet in Britain for a long time. She has worked for that office for more than 10 years. She is very experienced. According to the rule, she should be transferred somewhere else after her term of office expires. Besides, it shows that men and women are equal in Tibet (ha ha). One more thing about her. Her husband, Takla Phunthso Tashi specializes in Tibetan history. He knows Chinese. In 1959, he was the commander of my guards regiment. In 1954 and 1955 when I went to Beijing, he served as the commander of the guards regiment. He worked as an interpreter when I talked with Mao Zedong. He served as an interpreter in 1951 when the 17-point agreement [between China and Tibet] was signed.

[Q] One thing I feel embarrassed to ask. You can ignore it if you feel that it is improper. When you left Taiwan, you said that once you returned to India you would issue a list of donations collected in Taiwan and let Taiwan people know about it. Could you kindly tell me how the donations are used?

[A] I have turned the donations over to the Kashag (cabinet) government. But the cabinet has not submitted the list to me. We will have the list soon and I will tell Master Ching Hsin to publish it in Taiwan...

He is in good health. He will not pass away before bringing Tibetans back to their homeland

[Q] In the past, you once said that if it was necessary, you would become the last Dalai Lama. But recently you said that if people still need a Dalai Lama, then you would choose a free region for your reincarnation. You will not be reincarnated in the Chinese mainland. Could you kindly tell me whether you are afraid of a repetition of the case in which the discovery of two reincarnated soul boys of the Panchen Lama was announced?

[A] Regarding the reincarnation, I already talked about it over 10 years ago. What I said is not new. What I meant is this: It is up to the Tibetans to decide whether the Dalai Lama should be reincarnated. In particular, in a situation in which so many Tibetans are in exile, then the only place where I can be reincarnated is in the outside world. This is what I said before.

[Q] Are you afraid that you might pass away before the desiny of the exiled Tibetans has changed for the better?

[Dalai] I will not die before I lead the Tibetans back to Tibet. At least, I can live 20 or 30 years longer. During this period, the Tibetan issue will certainly change for the better...

[Q] Do you think the talks between Clinton and Jiang Zemin will be helpful to resolving the problems encountered by the Tibetans who are currently in exile?

[A] The US president is concerned about the Tibetan people. He said a long time ago that he would certainly like to talk about the Tibetan issue when he meets high-ranking Chinese officials. So I am sure that he talked about it this time, including refraining from sabotaging religious and human rights. As to what kind of result the talks will achieve, we are really not quite sure in a short period of time...

[Q] Communist China does not want to hold talks with Taiwan nor does it want to hold talks with you. In your opinion, how can they break the stalemate?

[A] (pondering) I believe I have made efforts on my part to eliminate the obstacles to peace talks. Besides, I have put forward my " doctrine of the middle way" . Now the problem is on communist China's side and we cannot do anything about it. The obstacles on our side have been eliminated. We have told foreigners and Chinese that we do not seek Tibetan independence. We have told everybody about this. That is all we can do. Besides, when we were in Taiwan, we also did not say that we needed support for Tibet independence...