China has stated that the Dalai Lama must “thoroughly correct” his political views as a precondition for resuming contact with the central government. This stance reflects China’s long-standing view of the Dalai Lama as a separatist figure, despite his assertions that he is not seeking independence for Tibet but rather meaningful autonomy within China. The Chinese government requires the Dalai Lama to align with their perspective on Tibet’s status and governance before any talks can proceed.
The issue of the Dalai Lama’s succession is also a point of contention. A group of US politicians recently met with the Dalai Lama, which led to China reiterating its position that any interaction with the Dalai Lama is viewed unfavourably unless he adjusts his stance to match the official Chinese policy.
The US politicians’ visit coincides with the US Congress passing the Resolve Tibet Act, aimed at encouraging China to reach a peaceful agreement on Tibet’s status.
Formal discussions between China and the Dalai Lama’s representatives have been stalled since 2010, and the current conditions set by China indicate that they seek to ensure that the Dalai Lama’s influence aligns with their policies before engaging in any further dialogue.
The dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama has faced several challenges, leading to its failure:
The Chinese government insists that the Dalai Lama must “thoroughly correct” his political views as a precondition for any contact or dialogue. China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist, while he states that he seeks meaningful autonomy for Tibet, not independence.
The issue of the Dalai Lama’s succession is contentious. China has expressed that it wants to have a say in the selection of the next Dalai Lama, which is opposed by the Tibetan side. There is a significant lack of trust between the two parties. The Chinese government’s distrust of the Dalai Lama has been cited as one of the critical obstacles in the dialogue process. Formal talks have been stalled since 2010. The Dalai Lama’s envoys resigned after the ninth round of talks, citing a deteriorating situation in Tibet and a perceived lack of sincerity and willingness from the Chinese side.
International actions, such as the US Congress passing the Resolve Tibet Act, have led to increased tensions. China has warned against foreign interference in Tibet’s affairs, which it considers an internal matter.
The Dalai Lama’s proposals for a “Greater Tibet” and high-level autonomy are not accepted by China, which argues that these proposals are not consistent with the history of Tibet and create obstacles to resolving the issue.
These factors contribute to the complex and sensitive nature of the dialogue, making it difficult to find common ground and move forward.
- Khedroob Thondup is the son of Gyalo Thondup, elder brother of the Dalai Lama. Educated at St Stephens College, Delhi University and the University of San Francisco, Khedroob Thondup was Personal Assistant to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and accompanied him on his first trip in 1979 to the U.S. He was sent by the Dalai Lama to Beijing from 1980 till 1993 in dialogue talks. He interacted with Xi Jinping’s father Xi Zhongxun and Hu Jintao. He is President of the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, Darjeeling since 1987.