Jian Junbo : Sino-EU ties hijacked by Tibet issue
This month, the European Union (EU) parliament passed a resolution on the Tibet issue, urging the Chinese government to resume dialogue with the Tibetan spiritual leader in exile, the Dalai Lama, for “real autonomy for Tibet”. However, a Chinese government spokesperson immediately rejected this, saying the call was interference in China’s “internal affairs”.
Not only the EU, but also all of its member states acknowledge that the Tibet Autonomous Region is a part of China, and they all adhere to the “one-China” policy, at least according to their laws and official statements.
POSTED COMMENTS: 2 Responses
Interesting views although not very convincing, I am also sceptical to Asia Times Online….considering their other articles on the Tibet issue.
Even if a foreign government truly did believe that Tibet deserves/needs to be independent they simply cannot say so for fear of economic sanctions in our globalized world. A situation that seems to be a sort of double edged sword for Tibet and Tibetans. On the one hand if this communist invasion occured before the time of the internet, satellites, jetplanes, etc I’m sure the Chinese would have gone the route of the Nazi’s with the Jews. So the timing in this respect is good. But then again economically the rest of the world’s hands are tied from often even vocalizing support for Tibet’s right for independence because the worlds economic status, and therefore governments, are so intertwined. And with China currently being the worlds factory and manpower-house, no government is willing to risk a bad relationship.
But in reality for Tibetans, it really doesn’t matter what the worlds governments say’s about Tibet. Because of the colonialist tactics in Tibet, the Tibetans will be unhappy and so will struggle for their freedom no matter what.
It really is interesting when talking to some Chinese about Tibet, they always bring up the fact that no country views Tibet as independent. Besides my usual response (Well of course not…Tibet was invaded and colonized for the last 50 years!) I also sense that these people are trying to make Tibetans feel hopeless so that we will give up and just become Chinese. Thus, their intentions and motivations seem to have nothing to do with the realities in Tibet (past and present) but are merely to try and assimilate Tibetans. So frustrating…but then again, all conversations with nationalistic Chinese are frustrating because their complete lack of acceptance of reality in the past and present.