Beijing, September 1 – With the Dalai Lama set to embark on a high-profile trip to the US this week, the Chinese official media on Monday urged Washington not to damage bilateral ties while asking the exiled Tibetan religious leader to shun his pro-independence stance and resume negotiations with Beijing “as soon as possible”.
“The best resolution for the Dalai Lama is to return to the negotiating table with the (Chinese) central government as soon as possible,” the state-run China Daily said in a signed editorial, ahead of the Dalai Lama’s tour of the United States from September 4-24.
It is the (Chinese) central government’s long-held stance that the door is open to the Dalai Lama for talks under the basic premise that he gives up “Tibet independence” proposal, stops all separatist activities, and acknowledges the Tibet autonomous region as an inalienable part of China.
The paper also cautioned Washington against hosting the Dalai and arranging meetings with senior US government officials and criticised the Bush administration against interfering in China’s internal affairs.
“Exactly why the US has taken such a high-profile interest in meeting with an exile is worthy of careful consideration,” it said, five days after the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it has lodged strong representation with the US side against the visit.
“The Dalai Lama is not a purely religious person, but also a political refugee who has engaged in China-splitting activities for a long time,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said asking the US to adhere to its promise that it acknowledges Tibet as part of China.
The editorial pointed out that since his escape to India in 1959 following an abortive uprising against the Chinese government, the Dalai has not ceased various activities aimed at separating Tibet from China.
“History demonstrates the Dalai Lama has repeatedly taken advantage of every opportunity to propagate his separatist activities and try to rally international support for this purpose under the guise of religious expression”.
Recalling the Dalai’s first meeting with US President George W Bush in May 2001, it said he “once again tried to trumpet his political agenda in the US by taking advantage of a meeting with Bush and (US Secretary of State) Powell to expound his separatist views.”
“It is therefore predicted his upcoming trip to the US will in no way be confined to religious affairs,” it said.
“The Tibet autonomous region is an integral part of the Chinese territory, and the US’ granting permission for a visit by this political exile constitutes a serious intervention into China’s internal affairs. By doing so, the US also breaks its past commitment to China that it acknowledges Tibet as part of China and does not back an independent Tibet,” the paper said.
“The US should not confound right from wrong on the Tibet issue and push the Dalai Lama to go along the way of Tibet independence,” it said, adding that anything less will cause damage to Sino-US relations.
The US State Department has said that the Dalai Lama would be visiting the US and will meet with “appropriate US officials in his capacity as a religious leader.”
Representatives of the Lama have said that he would visit New York, Washington and two other cities during the three-week trip during which he would also meet Congressional leaders and senior US administration officials.
