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Dalai Lama opens contacts with China |
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Negotiations between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama about the future of Tibet have resumed after a two-year gap following a secret visit to Beijing last month by the Dalai Lama’s elder brother. The Dalai Lama said at a press conference to mark his 50th anniversary on December 4 that for the first time his brother, Gyalo Thondup had visited Beijing in late October at the instance of the Chinese authorities and discussed a resumption of dialogue. The Dalai Lama also confirmed that Mr Thondup had brought a message from the Chinese and that he had already responded to it. However, the Dalai Lama refused to divulge the contents of the message pleading that this was not the right time and that he would make the message public whenever it is possible.
In Beijing, the Foreign Ministry spokeswomen confirmed that contacts with the Dalai Lama have been maintained, but she neither denied nor confirmed whether the Dalai Lama’s brother visited China to pass on his views to the Communist Party Leaders. the spokeswoman, Zhang Qiyue, however dampened hopes for a resumption of dialogue between the two sides when she accused the Dalai Lama of being insincere and misleading international public opinion.
According to sources closed to the Dalai Lama Mr Thondup, a former Tibetan envoy, had earlier received indications that the Chinese wanted to see him. The Dalai Lama said he had responded to Beijing’s overture by suggesting t hat a Tibetan delegation visit China for further talks. There had not yet been a reply.
Beijing’s formal position is that the door is still open to talks it broke off in 1993 if the Dalai Lama explicitly “renounces independence”. Informal talks briefly resumed after President Jiang Zemin in China in 198, but were terminated soon afterwards. The Chinese Government recently preferred to ignore the Dalai Lama, arguing that after this death Tibetan nationalism would disappear.
China not to send warships for Fleet Review show
China has meanwhile declined to send a warship to the first-ever International Fleet Review (IFR) being organised by the Indian Navy (IN) in February next year. Earlier china had indicated its inclination to participate after two Indian warships paid a call at Shagai last September. The visit marked a first-ever bilateral passage exercise (PASSEX) and an unprecedented release of a First Day Cover to commemorate the Indian naval ship visit. Although China has expressed its regrets for its inability to attend the IFR, it is believed that Beijing does not want to annoy Pakistan by sending a warship only to India. However, China will be represented by the Chinese speaker who will give lecture on Chinese perspective of the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific region at a two-day IFR seminar.
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