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China to America – Tibet is an internal issue, but trade isn’t
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News and Politics :: Sino-American :: Human rights and personal freedoms :: Sino-Tibet :: News and Perspectives :: Sino-European ::
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posted Tuesday, 15 November 2005
As anybody who has been observing China for some time will know well that it is a common trait for Beijing to react to any situation that losses it face by either pretending that it didn’t happen, or by attempting to project an image of strength over the top of its losses. Such was the situation ,late last week, when Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao issues an angry rebuke to Washington, in an attempt to salvage face after US President George Bush met with the Dalai Lama, in direct defiance to demands made by Beijing that foreign nations should pretend that the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet does not exist.
However, despite China’s complaints over the visit, it would appear that there will be no sting in the tail to follow. Part of a growing trend that had lead some to suggest that China may now be being forced to put prosperity before pride, at least where external audiences, and the large western powers, are concerned.
The Rebuke
Describing Bush’s meeting with the exiled Lama as being an ‘interference’ in Chinese affairs, Liu warned Washington not to become involved in the dispute between Mainland China and the formerly sovereign Tibet, and condemned the US leader for drawing further international attention on China’s troubled relationship with its unwilling province.
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"Other leaders should not provide a platform for [the Dalai Lama] to separate the country" Liu Jianchao, spokesperson, Foreign Ministry, China |
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All Bark, No Bite
While it is not yet clear what repercussions Bush’s audience with the Dalai Lama will have, it is thought likely that Beijing will do little that would endanger Sino-American trade relations. Which have now become a significant factor for Chinese progression.
A school of thought that comes backed up by a simultaneous statement from the spokesperson issuing the rebuke, stating that Bush’s meeting with the Tibetan retinue would not be seen as an impediment to his forthcoming three day visit to China, secluded to begin on 19 November.
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"The importance [of President Bush’s forthcoming trip to
China] will not be diminished by a single incident. The visit will
achieve its planned goals." Liu Jianchao |
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Similarly, Britain received near identical criticism from China, when it earlier extended a state level welcome to the Dalai Lama, without suffering any noticeable damage to its trade or diplomatic relations with China.
Additionally, an earlier meeting between the Tibetan retinue, and members of the British Crown family, did not apparently anger China sufficiently for leader Hu Jintao to call off his coveted royal audience, which was held earlier this month.
Some China watchers have pointed to this pattern of rebukes, that are not matched by action, or even a noticeable souring of relations, as a sign that China may now be in a state where its reliance relations western trade and investment, mean that China now more often having to limit itself to verbal actions so as to not jeopardize the countries international interests, and that Beijing having to swallow its pride and put the maintenance of the Chinese economy before the maintenance of Chinese face.
Isolation
Ever since the communist army entered Tibet, shortly after WWII, and brought the once independent state directly under Beijing’s control sphere, it has been Chinese policy to isolate the state from the international community, and to prevent those calling for independence from being heard. Either within Tibet, or outside of it.
As such, Beijing frequently opposes any meetings between the Dalai Lama, or his representatives, and has reacted with staunch indignation each time representatives of Tibet have been welcomed as state guests in other countries.
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"The Dalai Lama is not a simple or a pure religious
figure. He is a political exile who undertakes secessionist activities
abroad….. We oppose meetings between him and other leaders." Liu Jianchao |
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Paradox
While western nations do not recognize Tibet a being independent at the state level, it remains a paradox of affairs that it is common for world leaders to meet with the Tibetan representative at a high level. Affording the Lama and the Tibetan exile Government similar status to a retinue from a sovereign state.
This recognition comes in stark contrast to the west’s treatment of other territories that have been subsumed/are claimed by Mainland China. Territories which include East Turkistan; which currently has no substantive recognition from the west, and Chinese-Taiwan; which is recognized through ‘interchange agencies’ that serve as de-facto embassies, but whose representatives are rarely afforded high level status because of the ‘One China’ principle signed between Beijing and all western governments.
Fact and Fiction
According to Beijing, Tibet is an inherent and immutable component of the PRC, which enjoys full religious and cultural autonomy within greater China.
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“In the past 40 years or so, Tibet has inherited and
developed its cultural heritage, Tibetan customs and religions have
been fully respected, and people have enjoyed full freedom of religious
faith” Xinhua, State Controlled media agency. |
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In reality, China routinely bans any aspects of Tibet’s indigenous culture that separate Tibetan and Chinese identities, while often actively encouraging aspect of Tibetan heritage that can be seen as being ‘relicts of the past’ that can be used to promote tourism and the idea that Tibet is advancing by discarding its traditional practices in favor of elements of Han culture that have been imported form China, and that such epitaphs are merely being maintained as ‘curiosities’ which are irrelevant to modern day life.
Additionally, it is currently Chinese policy to encourage Han Chinese to relocate to the Tibetan region, where they are offered jobs that are unobtainable to Tibetans and land confiscated from Tibetans, in an effort to repopulate Tibet with Han.
‘Coincidentally’ an unusually large proportions of the Han who are offered land or senior positions in Tibet are former soldiers or members of the PSB.
It is currently illegal for a Tibetan to possess an image of the Dalai Lama or a recording of his voice.
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