By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, August 12: In what is seen as reaffirmation of a key precondition by Beijing for any political resolution for Tibetans, Victor Gao, a former translator for Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and vice president of the Center for China and Globalization has said, “If you want to go back to Tibet, acknowledge Tibet is part of China.” during an interview with Al Jazeera at Conway hall in London, England, on Friday.
The interview, hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan, focused on China’s foreign policy and its handling of dissent in Tibet, East Turkistan, and Taiwan. The discussion featured three experts on China: Rayhan Asat, an international human rights lawyer of Uighur descent and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council; Stephen Chan, a professor of world politics at the University of London, School of African and Oriental Studies; and Martin Jacques, author of When China Rules the World and visiting professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
During the Q&A session, Sonam Frasi, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet in London, asked about the current situation in Tibet, noting that after 74 years of Chinese rule, Tibet remains under strict control with limited access for journalists, tourists, and even Tibetans wishing to visit their families. Gao responded by stating, “Tibet has been part of China ever since the Yuan dynasty… I can assure you during your lifetime and mine Tibet will always be part of China.” He emphasized that acknowledging Tibet as part of China is necessary for anyone wishing to visit Tibet or any resolution for Tibet.
When Mehdi Hasan questioned the reasoning behind China’s approach to Taiwan and Tibet, Gao reiterated that China’s security is based on the principle that there is only one China, with Taiwan, Tibet, and East Turkestan (Xinjiang) as integral parts of it.
The One China principle is a stance maintained by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), asserting that there is only one sovereign state under the name China which includes the occupied East Turkestan, Tibet, Southern Mongolia, Manchuria and Taiwan, which China is seeking to occupy. According to this principle, the PRC is recognized as the sole legitimate government representing this expansive entity.
Experts say that Beijing has effectively weaponized the “One-China Principle” by pressuring countries to acknowledge the “One China Policy” as a prerequisite for establishing diplomatic relations with China. The Chinese government demands that “All countries having diplomatic relations with China and all member states of the UN should unconditionally adhere to the one-China principle and follow the guidance of UNGA Resolution 2758. Any attempt to unilaterally add preconditions and provisos to the one-China principle, to distort, fudge and hollow out the one-China principle is illegal, null and void”. This approach has become a critical tool in China’s diplomatic strategy, influencing international recognition and relations. Till now, china claims that 181 countries acknowledge the “One China Principle”.
