China draws Taiwan into Tibet

2003-11-13 13:27

Beijing - China insisted on Thursday the Dalai Lama publicly accept that Taiwan is a part of China and drop his call for Tibetan independence if he ever wants to set foot in Tibet again.

"If the Dalai Lama really gives up Tibet independence and makes a statement openly that Tibet is an inalienable part of China and announces in public that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and stops all separatist activities, the government could contact and talk with him on his future," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader said in Russia this week he wants to return his homeland within the next three years.

He has lived in India since fleeing the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959 with thousands of supporters after an abortive revolt against Chinese rule.

He told Japanese reporters this month he could accept three of China's conditions for talks; that Tibet drop its call for independence, put an end to separatist movements and accept the legitimacy of the Chinese government.

But when it came to the Chinese demand that the Tibetan side accept that Taiwan is an integral part of China, he said, "Let them (the Taiwanese) decide (on the issue)."

China dismissed the Dalai Lama's suggestion that Beijing should apply the "one country, two systems" model to Tibet as it has done in Hong Kong and Macau.

"As for the application of the one-country, two-systems in dealing with this issue, this principle is a principle only applicable to the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau question," said the foreign ministry.

"The Tibet question is a separate question. This principle is not applicable."

China, which annexed Tibet in 1950, regularly condemns the Dalai Lama as a "splittist" and renewed its attack on Thursday.

"The Dalai Lama makes moves on the international community everywhere, makes false propaganda of Tibetan history and the present, attacks religious policy and policy for ethnic groups," it said.

"This injures the feelings of Chinese people, including Tibetans, and this will not help improve relations between the central government and the Dalai Lama."

Two rounds of talks between the Dalai Lama's camp and Chinese representatives have already taken place, in September 2002 and May 2003.

A third round was expected in October but never occurred.

- AFP