China Softens Stance on Dalai Lama

China and Tibet are moving fast toward thawing their relations. High-ranking officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile are currently visiting Beijing. The three-week visit beginning September 9 was arranged by the Chinese government and is the first of its kind in 9 years since 1993.

The latest development is viewed as a dramatic turn in Beijing’s hard stance on the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, and a move to smooth its relations with the U.S., the Washington Post reported on September 12.

▽ Burying the Hatchet

Among the invited senior officials are Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, special envoy of the Dalai Lama in the United States, and Kelsang Gyaltsen, his envoy in Europe. The Tibetan delegation will meet with Chinese officials responsible for minority issues and discuss such key issues as full autonomy of Tibet and return or the Dalai Lama.

In particular, they are scheduled to visit Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. Given Beijing has blocked any attempt to enter the capital city by the Tibetan government-in-exile established in Inida in 1959, the travel to the capital is seen as a sign that the Chinese government is backing away from its opposition to the return of the spiritual leader.

China has indeed shown a gentler and kinder image on the issue, releasing Tibetan activist Tanak Sangpo and having private talks with Dalai Lama’s brother.

▽ China’s Motivations

One theory is that President Jiang Zemin wishes to smooth the way for talks with President Bush before his visit in October.

“The Tibet issue has long been a stumbling block to U.S.-Sino relations,” said Richard Boucher, spokesman for the U.S. State Department. “We are seeing some progress.”

When Chinese Vice President Hujintao visited the U.S. in May this year, a group of lawmakers conveyed him a letter asking for release of 25 Tibetan political prisoners under detention in China. The vice president, however, did not even read the letter, sparking vehement criticism among U.S. human rights organizations.

Unlike his predecessor Bill Clinton who did not meet with the Dalai Lama to pacify the Chinese government, Bush made clear his pro-Tibet position when he talked with the Tibetan leader for thirty minutes last year.

The engagement policy towards the Dalai Lama is gaining support among Chinese intellectuals, further pressing Beijing to soften its stance. Intellectuals argue that it is better for the government to recognize and talk with the Dalai Lama than dealing with divided Tibet without him.

Experts say that the senior-level talks will produce some tangible outcomes in such issues as extending the autonomous areas. They warn, however, that Beijing is not likely to listen to Tibet’s territorial claim over 5 regions where Tibetan exiles are populated including Yunnan and Xinjiang provinces.

Mi-Kyung Jung mickey@donga.com