There has been constant fine-tuning in the Tibet policy ever since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. But generally speaking, the policy remains unchanged. Its aim is the improvement of the living standards of the Tibetan people.

The March 14 episode this year was only a minor incident in the development of Tibet. It shows that the Dalai Lama does not want to see development and stability in Tibet. It was premeditated, and therefore it is important that the Chinese Government be more vigilant in developing stability and modernisation in Tibet.

In the past few years, the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) has developed faster that ever before in its history. The important task before the central government is to ensure that modernization benefits all Tibetans, and leads to harmonious, scientific and sustainable development. We believe that the March 14th events will consolidate our Tibet policy. If anything, our concern is that we are not doing enough to implement this policy.

You have raised a critical issue. Before democratic reform, monks and temples had a central place in the old theological society. Monasteries owned one-third of the productive forces, and they exercised judicial and administrative rights. Therefore, when the democratic reforms did away with theocracy, monks lost the privileges they enjoyed, while serfs and farmers were liberated. It is therefore natural that monks and the ‘Living Buddhas’ who lost their privileges are a discontented lot. Before the Democratic Reform in 1959, there were 2,700 monasteries and monks accounted for 12 per cent of the total population.

Chairman Mao Zedong once said that monks “neither produce material goods nor descendents. They only consume.” He also said: “I hope the Dalai Lama will take the lead in bringing about reforms in Tibet.” Over 92 per cent of the fiscal budget before 1959 went to religious heads, a serious obstruction to development.

Now there are 1,700 religious venues and 46,000 monks live there. All these monasteries have been restored after reform and opening up. But these monks have a feeling that they do not get as much as the rest in modernisation.

However, monks are not poor. Many in fact are rich, as the general public donates a lot of money to them. Maybe they are discontented because the old religious thinking influences them, and they were the largest beneficiaries of the old system.

Yes, sometimes I agree we are paying him too much attention. I think the reasons are as follows.

China is embracing modernisation and we want to achieve development through opening up. It has been 50 years since the Dalai Lama went into exile, and in this time he has developed a link with western anti-China forces. Actually, he is an instrument used by western forces. His group conspired with hostile forces to create an unfair media opinion poll on Tibet. This is now a question that China must face. The Dalai Lama’s sayings and doings have undermined China’s image. This international image influences modernisation and opening up.

We hope to tell the world the truth about the Dalai Lama. People do not see the real Tibet as very few have had the opportunity to visit. Tibet as portrayed by the Dalai Lama is like the earth-centred theory. We know that the sun is the centre of the galaxy. But by all appearances, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. We need more truth-seeking people, more Copernicuses who will tell people that the sun is the centre of the galaxy, Copernicuses who will give the real picture of Tibet.

We are paying attention to the Dalai Lama because he is lying to the world, and western forces use him. We want the world to know the truth about Tibet. There are too few Copernicuses on the Tibetan issue.

As Mr. Deng Xiao Ping once said, “The demand for Tibetan independence is not negotiable.” This is true today. The Dalai group hopes to discuss how the Dalai Lama can represent the Tibetan people and Tibet’s destiny. As far as we are concerned, this is not possible. He used to have that right before 1959 as administrative chief of the TAR [Tibet Autonomous Region]. Ever since then, the destiny of Tibet has been in the hands of the Tibetan people.

With the Dalai’s personal representatives, we can discuss the future and destiny of the 14th Dalai Lama and those around him. The Dalai Lama is very ambitious and wants an autonomous Greater Tibet region. This is impossible as it means the creation of a cultural entity one-fourth the size of China! The Dalai Lama hopes to exclude all other nationalities, including Han Chinese, out of Greater Tibet. This is impossible even in international law.

If the Dalai Lama hopes to see progress, he must think about what he can do to promote the well being of the Tibetan people, on how he can promote modernisation instead of a theological society.

Of course, it takes two to tango. Despite our difficult position, we have used patience. The Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959 and we retained his position as the Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress till 1966. The Dalai Lama cannot hope to retain his old theological position, but he can play a role as a religious head if he has the will. We will still listen to his views. Although Tibet’s prosperity does not need the Dalai Lama, we hope to increase mutual understanding. This shows the sincerity of the Chinese central government.

Because after he went into exile, the differences between the Chinese government and him have gradually deepened. It takes time to resolve differences. If the Dalai Lama wants to return, he must show sincerity and demonstrate his political position on major political issues. For example, he must make it very clear that Tibet is an inalienable part of China since ancient times. He must stop activities aimed at Tibetan independence and the activities by the so-called government-in-exile.

In recent contacts and negotiations, the Chinese central government has put forth the four “no supports” [not to support activities to disturb the Beijing Olympic Games; not to support plots to fan violent criminal activities; not to support and to concretely curb the violent terrorist activities of the ‘Tibetan Youth Congress’; and not to support any argument and activity seeking ‘Tibet independence’]. He must apply these.

The issue of Tibet is China’s internal affair. The contacts and negotiations are between the Chinese central government and the Dalai Lama.

Having said this, India can play a role in helping China address the issue of the Dalai Lama. Due to historic reasons, the Dalai group is mainly based in India. The Dalai Lama has conducted pro-independence and anti-China activities in India that the Government of India has made active efforts in opposing. We appreciate that. I believe that the Indian government can help China address the Tibetan issue and oppose the Dalai Lama using India for anti-China activities.

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