Differences on the definition of Tibet persist between Beijing and the Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile despite four rounds of talks since 2002, a Tibetan spokesman said Friday.
“While China sees Tibet as the area included under the Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibetans claim a much larger area where the culture and language are Tibetan,” said Thuptan Samphal, a spokesman for the Tibetan exile government headquartered in northern India.
The two sides held their latest round of talks aimed at settling their differences over Tibet on June 30-July 1 at the Chinese Embassy in Berne, Switzerland.
The talks have focused on the Dalai Lama’s demand for more autonomy for Tibet, and on his possible return to his homeland. The Buddhist spiritual leader says he is not seeking Tibet’s independence, and acknowledges it is part of China.
“The envoys clarified some core issues raised in the earlier round of discussions with China,” Samphal said, without elaborating.
But there were still major differences, he said. “The most fundamental issue that we still have differences on is the definition of Tibet,” Samphal said.
