World Tibet Network News Thursday, April 30, 1998 (II)

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

BEIJING, April 29: China may be willing to resume talks with the exiled Tibetan religious leader Dalai Lama if Washington was prepared to "act" on Taiwan, a more pressing issue for the communist government here, diplomatic sources said today. "Now that Dalai Lama himself has reportedly said that he is not demanding independence from China and sought only genuine self-rule, the Chinese side may be willing to restart negotiations so that they could tackle the more belligerent Taiwanese leaders," the sources told PTI here.

"Tibet as such is not a big problem for China since it has kept it under tight control in all respects," sources said adding that Beijing wanted more concessions from Washington on the Taiwan issue.

Madeleine Albright, currently on a two-day visit to China, has reportedly placed "Tibet issue" on top of her agenda during the talks here with senior Chinese officials including foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan.

The talks are expected to press Beijing for restarting the dialogue process with theIndia-based Dalai Lama.

During the upcoming state visit of US President Bill Clinton, China may say "yes" to talks with the Dalai Lama while it would ask President Clinton "to do something more" about Taiwan and help early "reunification" of the motherland, the sources said.

Meanwhile, media reports today said China has set up a special preparatory committee headed by Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan for coordinating the Taiwan issue during Clinton's visit in June.

President Jiang Zemin has laid down detailed instructions on the framework of discussions with Clinton and his aides, reports Hong Kong's leading newspaper, South China Morning Post.