China has recently affirmed its stance on discussions concerning Tibet, stating that it will only engage with representatives of the Dalai Lama and not with the Central Tibetan Administration, also known as Tibetan government-in-exile, based in India. However, it has firmly dismissed the possibility of talks regarding Tibet’s autonomy, a key aspiration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
According to PTI, the Chinese government views the Tibetan government-in-exile as a separatist group, which it considers illegal under Chinese law. “The so-called government-in-exile is a completely separatist political bloc. It is totally against the Chinese Constitution and laws. It is illegal,” said Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for China‘s Foreign Ministry, during a media briefing in Beijing.
PTI reports that these remarks came in response to discussions about back-channel talks between the Tibetan government-in-exile and China. Despite the dialogue efforts, the primary focus for China remains on arranging future engagements without touching upon the topic of autonomy for Tibet. “They should have some self-introspection and refrain from all activities sabotaging the stability of Xizang and go back to the right way so that we can move towards the next step,” Wang added.
Historically, from 2002 to 2010, representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama and Chinese officials held nine rounds of discussions, which ended without any significant progress. The Tibetan side has consistently advocated for genuine autonomy for Tibetans, aligning with the Dalai Lama’s ‘Middle-Way Policy,’ which seeks a peaceful resolution through non-extreme means. However, no formal talks have occurred since 2010.
In Dharamshala, where the Tibetan government-in-exile is based, leaders remain hopeful about reinitiating comprehensive dialogue with China. Sikyong Penpa Tsering on Wednesday suggested that back-channel discussions could be the key to restarting formal negotiations and finding a resolution to the Tibetan issue.
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