(TibetanReview.net, Oct30, 2018) – Rejecting China’s claim that Tibet was always a part of China since ancient times, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) at Dharmashala, India, has, on Oct 29, released a report titled ‘Tibet Was Never A Part Of China But The Middle Way Approach Remains a Viable Solution’ in New Delhi. At the report’s release function, held at the India International Centre, CTA President Lobsang Sangay has questioned China’s credibility among the Tibetan people and wanted India to make Tibet a core issue in a counterstatement of China’s assertion of this position in the international community. However, he has also called for the resumption of talks to resolve the Tibet issue on the basis of the Middle Way Approach of the Dalai Lama which seeks autonomy, not independence, for an ethnographically defined historical Tibetan region.
Lobsang Sangay has sought to reassure Beijing by saying the middle way approach “does not challenge any of the preconditions set by Beijing such as its sovereignty and separation from the so-called motherland”. China has, however, long rebuffed and dismissed this as a disguised demand for independence.
At the same time, he has called on India to declare Tibet a “core issue” for it as well. “India should respond to the Chinese leaders and say…You say that Tibet is a core issue for China, we agree. Tibet is also a core issue for India,” PTI news agency Oct 29 quoted him as saying.
“(Chinese) President Xi Jinping says stability and security of China is dependent on stability and security of Tibet, we (India) say the same thing, stability and security of India is dependent on the stability and security of Tibet, give genuine autonomy to Tibetan people. It is a win for you, it is a win for the Tibetans and it is a win for us,” he was quoted as saying.
He has said “backdoor channels” were being pursued to resume contact with Beijing. “We remain hopeful that it will lead somewhere very soon. We do believe there will be talks in the future,” phayul.com quoted him as saying.
The report, described as a flagship publication, and written in Tibetan, English and Chinese languages, was stated to have been unveiled by Socialist and reformer Prof. Anand Kumar and Lobsang Sangay. They were reported to have addressed a select gathering of scholars, experts, academicians, diplomats and journalists.
CTA Spokesperson Mr Sonam Norbu Dagpo has said the report was the work of more than 18 writers and editors at the CTA.
