KATHMANDU, November 14 – China is working to end the unauthorized movement of Tibetans to Nepal, the usual transit route for Tibetans heading to their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s base in India, the Chinese ambassador here said Friday.
Ambassador Sun Heping declined to use the term “refugee,” instead calling the Tibetans who enter Nepal without proper papers Chinese illegal immigrants.
“There is no Tibetan refugee problem between us (China and Nepal) but those who have been creating problems are illegal immigrants crossing over to Nepal,” Sun told reporters.
“We are going to make necessary arrangements to stop such illegal immigrants,” he said.
Nepal in May defied international appeals and deported 18 Tibetan refugees to China. The move was condemned by the United States, European Union and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Sun said China did favour legal travel to boost trade and said a delegation would visit here next week to discuss opening more crossings on the 1,400-kilometre (875-mile) Himalayan border.
Between 30,000 and 35,000 Tibetan refugees are settled in Nepal but the government has never risked Chinese anger by allowing the Dalai Lama to visit.
The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising in Lhasa against Chinese rule.
