Menu

Argument: The Chinese government is not working toward solutions for Tibet

Issue Report: Tibet independence

Supporting quotes

  • “Proving Truth from Facts”. Released by the Tibetan Government-in-Exile on 7 July 1993 partly in response to China’s white paper.[1] – “Quest for Solution
The Dalai Lama and his Government have repeatedly made efforts to find a negotiated solution to the grave situation in Tibet. In 1979, China’s supreme leader, Deng Xiaoping, stated that anything except total independence of Tibet could be discussed and resolved. Although this has remained the stated position of the Chinese government, China has consistently behaved contrary to that position.
The Dalai Lama’s desire to seek a peaceful negotiated solution is well known and has earned him the Nobel Peace Prize and numerous other awards. In 1980, the Dalai Lama proposed sending teachers to Tibet from among well-educated Tibetan refugees to help improve the education of young Tibetans. In 1987, the Dalai Lama announced a Five-Point Peace Plan and a year later elaborated on the plan in a speech delivered in Strasbourg which contained far reaching concessions. Despite the fact that all these initiatives fell well within China’s stated policy, the Chinese Government refused to come to the negotiating table. The Chinese have always raised obstacles or set conditions that cannot be met. In 1993 the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile proposed to send a high-level delegation to Beijing to attempt to open an official dialogue. At the time of writing, China has yet to propose a date.
Hope for the survival of Tibet and its people and culture now lies in the ability of the international community to persuade China that it should act with moderation, respect the Tibetan people’s rights and enter into negotiations with representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people in order to seek a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution, in keeping with the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Tibetan people.”