World Tibet Network News Sunday, June 28, 1998

By JOHN LEICESTER, Associated Press Writer

BEIJING, Saturday, June 27, 1998 (AP) -- President Clinton urged Chinese President Jiang Zemin to open a dialogue with Tibet's Dalai Lama, saying the two men would like each other "very much" if they actually talked. For his part, Jiang said talks were possible if the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader accepts that Tibet and the island of Taiwan are both part of China. "If he acknowledges that Tibet is an inseparable part of China - at the same time he also must admit that Taiwan is a province of China -then, as far Isee it, the door to negotiation is open," Jiang said during a post-summit news conference. "I hope the Dalai can change positively," Jiang said. Jiang refrained from using the label Chinese officials typically give the Dalai Lama -that of a dangerous "splittist" intent on making Tibet independent.

The Dalai Lama, who fled his Himalayan homeland after a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule, has said he seeks greater autonomy - not independence - for Tibet. Later, a Chinese government spokesman said that a part from openly recognizing Tibet as Chinese territory, the Dalai Lama also would have to renounce Tibetan independence and stop supporting separatist activities for negotiations to begin. "He has time and again said China is occupying an independent nation. This is an obstacle to negotiations," said Zhu Bangzao of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Clinton agreed that Tibet was Chinese territory and said he understood why China was insisting on such an acknowledgement from the Dalai Lama before opening talks.

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