Published by: World Tibet Network News Wednesday, November 26, 1997

BEIJING, Nov 25 AAP - China warned Australia today against appointing its own coordinator on the thorny issue of Tibet.

The sternly worded threat from China's Foreign Ministry, following a recommendation from the Senate last night for Australia to establish such a position, similar to one set up by the United States last month.

"Some countries would like to appoint a special coordinator on the Tibetan question," Ministry spokesman Tang Quogiang told a regular press briefing.

"This is an interference in China's internal affairs. "We would like to express our opposition to this." The Senate motion on Tibet, raised by the Tasmanian Greens' Bob Brown, noted and welcomed the US appointment of its coordinator, which came during President Jiang Zemin's US visit and which enraged Chinese officials.

The US coordinator will visit all Tibetan regions with a charter to advance the protection of human rights in Tibet and help preserve the religious, cultural and linguistic heritage of its people.

The Senate urged the Australian Government to fund a similar position to help promote dialogue between the ruling Chinese government and representatives of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Spokesman Tang reiterated that China will not tolerate any moves by foreign governments, inspired by concerns of human rights abuses in Tibet, to interfere in what it regards as internal affairs in relation to the region.

"Through history, Tibet has been an inseparable part of China's territory," he said. "Our position on the question of Tibet has been clear and insistent. We are opposed to any country interfering in China's internal affairs.

"The question of Tibet falls within China's internal affairs." AAP tm/pm