THE DALAI LAMA CHINA TALKS-UPDATE
Posted by Site Staff on Friday May 9, 2008
Anita Chang of the Associated Press on May 2,008 reports:
Talks were to begin on May 4, 2008 between The Dalai Lama and China regarding the violence occurring in the Tibetan region. The spiritual leader’s envoys are to meet with China’s United work Front Department; this body is directly under the Communist Parties Central Committee and deals with issues in Tibet and “containing separatist forces”
What is of great interest here is that immediately prior to the talks China once again began an attack on the Dalai Lama through its’ newspapers thus attempting to sway the public on who is the bad guy. This is a classic example of a style of negotiation seen in this region of the world. While preparing to talk with your adversary continue to verbally attack.
China’s problem here is the Olympic Games scheduled to begin soon. Generally the reason for this style of talking is to gain small concessions as the talk or negotiation continues with China doing nothing or giving smaller concessions. Talks of this nature occurred in the Korean skirmish and the Viet Nam peace negotiations. Eastern countries and mid-east countries rely on the fact that they are not in a hurry and have time to wait while Western countries are more apt to want things accomplished in a relative hurry.
The Chinese maintain the Dalai Lama has caused the violence and that he wants to remove Tibet from their control. The Dalai Lame disputes this and states that he wants violence to stop and is seeking meaningful autonomy for Tibet not independence. These talks are on an informal basis at this time. In 2006 more formal talks were held to no avail The Chinese claim the violence has been caused by the Dalai Lama’s clique and inner circle.
A difficult barrier to cross is the problem regarding whether formal talks should be held only if the violence stops and not before. It would be great if both sides could agree upon a mediator or negotiator such as Jimmy Carter or George Mitchell, but the parties are entrenched in not simply a dispute but a dispute involving religion, politics, power, and (Way of life in China). The Communist Party in China sees a geographic area bordered on China attempting to secede and declare independence from the Party. The Dalai Lama on the other hand takes the position of wanting not only a meaningful autonomy but also nationalism.
Even the Tibetan government in exile also feels the violence in Tibet may be too great for formal talks at this time Let us all hope that men of good will on both sides move toward resolving this
dispute and escalation, if any, is managed.
The newsletter believes that if the method of total inclusion and possibly shuttle diplomacy would be applied to this dispute their would be progress. This will take both sides to cooperate and someone of great world stature to step in.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR READERSHIP. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH SUGGESTIONS OR CRITICISMS. WE ENDEAVOR TO MAKE THIS NEWSLETTER AS GOOD FOR THE READERS AS IT IS FOR THE STAFF. CONTINUE TO READ THE NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPLEMENTS AND THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER. THE JUNE, 2008 ISSUE WILL CONTINUE THE NEGOTIATION DISCUSSION AND BEGIN EXPLORING POWER. THE STAFF WILL KEEP YOU APPRISED OF NEWS OR CHANGES IN THE TIBET/CHINA DISPUTE.
