(TibetanReview.net, Apr27’24) —China has reiterated its position Apr 26 that it will only hold talks, if at all, with representatives of the Dalai Lama, subject to conditions, while hurling condemnations at the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which is effectively the Tibetan government in exile, calling it illegal and separatist. The Chinese remarks came in response to reports that the Sikyong (executive head) Mr Penpa Tsering of the CTA had on Apr 25 spoken of having established “very informal” backchannels with Beijing since last year.
“The so-called Xizang’s government-in-exile is a completely separatist political bloc. It is totally against the Chinese Constitution and laws. It is illegal,” the PTI news agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin as saying at a media briefing in Beijing, adhering to China’s new policy not to use the name “Tibet”, which it says no longer exists.
“No country has recognised it,” Wang has quipped.
Earlier, speaking to a visiting group of journalists in Dharamshala, India, Penpa Tsering had said, “We have had back-channel (engagement) since last year. But we have no immediate expectations from it. It has to be a long-term (one).”
Making it clear that the talks were “very informal,” he had said, “I have my interlocutor who deals with people in Beijing. Then there are other elements also trying to reach out to us.”
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But whatever may be the case, Wang has insisted that the Chinese government had “two basic principles for contacts with this (Dalai Lama’s) group.”
“First, we will only have talks with the representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama instead of the so-called representatives of the so-called government-in-exile or the so-called administrative centre.”
Secondly, the topics for talks will be only for the arrangements for the Dalai Lama’s “return to China”, and not for the “so-called autonomy” of Tibet.
Wang has also insisted, “They should have some self-introspection and refrain from all activities sabotaging the stability of Xizang and go back to the right way so that we can move towards the next step.”
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However, the position of the Dalai Lama, 88, who relinquish his historical political status and authority in favour of the elected exile Tibetan leadership in 2011 but remains Tibet’s spiritual leader, is that any discussion with China should only focus on the wellbeing of the entire Tibetan people encompassing the three traditional provinces of Tibet.
Nine (ten, according to China) rounds of exploratory talks were held between envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Communist Party of China’s United Front Work Department officials over 2002 to 2010. It ended in an acrimonious note with China rejecting the Tibetan side’s memorandum on genuine autonomy for Tibet and an explanatory note thereon as sought by the Chinese side.
Penpa Tsering has told the hindustantimes.com Apr 26 that he was not pushing for talks at the moment, adding, “Given the recent developments in Hong Kong and other regions, it seems unlikely that a solution could be reached soon. However, despite these challenges, it remains important for us to maintain communication with China.”
The report also quoted him as saying: “Since April last year, I have consistently said that we do indeed maintain back-channels with China. However, if one examines the policies and programmes of the Xi Jinping government, particularly in Tibet, East Turkestan, and Mongolia, it becomes evident that there is a trend towards increased control. While we acknowledge the existence of back-channels, expecting significant progress at this time may not be entirely reasonable.”