China gave no sign on Tuesday it was willing to compromise with the Dalai Lama to allow him to return to Tibet, a day ahead of the Buddhist icon’s 70th birthday and following a round of secretive dialogue.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the conditions for the Dalai Lama, who fled Lhasa in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule and leads a government-in-exile in India, had not changed.
“He has to clearly and publicly recognise that Tibet is an inseparable part of China and Taiwan is also an inseparable part of China. Only under such conditions can the central government hold discussions on the fate of his future,” Liu said.
The Dalai Lama, who turns 70 on Wednesday, favours greater autonomy for Tibet from Chinese rule.
Analysts say there is a danger his death in exile could create a rallying point for Tibetans unhappy with Communist rule China imposed after its troops invaded in 1950.
That worry may be part of the reason China has shifted from a strategy of waiting out his death to one of engagement and has now held four rounds of dialogue, albeit so tentatively the Chinese side has not publicly recognised the process exists.
Liu did not directly acknowledge the meeting between representatives of China and the Dalai Lama held in Switzerland on June 30 and July 1, but said Chinese officials had met overseas Tibetans.
“Not long ago, some relevant officials from the central government, when visiting abroad, met with some Tibetans, including some who are close to the Dalai Lama, and had a talk to further know their wishes and requirements,” Liu said.
“The relevant officials from central government reiterated the policy of the Chinese government towards overseas Tibetans, which is ‘it doesn’t matter if you become a patriot earlier or later’, and reiterated the consistent policy towards Dalai Lama.”
In a brief statement on the Switzerland meeting, the Tibetan government-in-exile said its delegation was led by Lodi Gyari, the Dalai Lama’s special envoy, and that the Chinese side was represented by Zhu Weiqun, vice-minister the United Front.
Analysts had no details of the meeting but say that given past animosity between the two sides, simply sustaining the talks was significant.
“My own analysis is that this kind of mutual communication and exchange of views promotes mutual understanding,” said Tenzin Lhundup of the China-Tibet Research Centre in Beijing.
“I think the dialogue is a positive direction.”
