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DISCUSSION OF ZHU WEIQUN WITH EUROPEAN OFFICIALS, SCHOLARS AND REPORTERS CONCERNING THE DALAI LAMA

日期:2012-02-28 15:09 来源:《统一论坛》 作者:

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Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the CPC Central Committee United Front Work Department, met with officials from the China Office of the European External Action Service, scholars from the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China and the Eurasian Center, professors and students from the College of Europe, reporters from New Europe and EU Observer, editors from the magazine Parliament, and staff members of representatives to the European Parliament from the European People’s Party and European Conservatives and Reformists Group at a dinner on December 12, 2011, in Brussels. At the dinner Zhu Weiqun discussed the present situation in Tibet, and answered questions raised by the Europeans in attendance concerning the Dalai Lama, human rights in Tibet, self-immolation incidents in Tibet, and contacts and talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama. Highlights of the discussion are as follows.

Zhu Weiqun: First, I would like to fill you in on the basic situation in Tibet, and then answer everyone’s questions during the course of dinner.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. For the past 60 years, the Chinese government has done a great deal, which can loosely be described in reference to three major events. The first major event was the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951, which made it forever impossible from then on for any power to separate Tibet from China. This peaceful liberation greatly advanced the cause of human rights in Tibet, because it provided a guarantee for the foundation of human rights there, the national sovereignty of China. History clearly shows that whenever any imperialist power invaded and humiliated Tibet, that made it impossible to speak of the cause of human rights in Tibet. The second major event was the quelling of the armed rebellion led by the upper-class ruling clique with the Fourteenth Dalai Lama at its head, and the subsequent implementation of democratic reforms and the abolition of the theocratic serf system that had ruled Tibet for hundreds of years. From that point on, Tibet became a new socialist society along with the other regions of China. From then on, it would be forever impossible to restore the feudal serf system in Tibet. Through democratic reform, millions of serfs acquired human rights. This was a major event of great importance having far-reaching impact in the history of human rights in China and the world. The third major event was the establishment of the autonomous region system in Tibet, which over the past half century has brought rapid economic and social development to Tibet and has improved and provided assurances for all aspects of the cause of human rights.

I have made nearly 40 trips to Tibet as part of my work, including five trips in the past year. Every time I go there, I see that people’s lives have improved significantly and their human rights are being protected. Let me give you some basic numbers. Even though they are estimates, they show the accomplishments the Chinese government and Tibetan people have made through great effort. During China’s Tenth Five-Year Plan period, from 2006-2010, the Chinese government expended 137.8 billion yuan in development investment in Tibet, and the Eleventh Five-Year Plan calls for total national government investment from 2011-2015 to reach 330 billion yuan, more than twice that of the previous period. The estimated 2011 GRP of Tibet is 60.5 billion yuan, a year on year increase of 12.6%. Tibet’s GRP has undergone a double digit increase for 19 consecutive years, and the urban per capita disposable income reached 16,148 yuan this year, a year-on-year increase of 7.8%. We pay particular attention to the situation of farmers and herders in Tibet because their living conditions are extremely bitter. This year, their per capita net income was 4,700 yuan, an increase of 13.6% over last year. This was the ninth consecutive year it experienced a double digit increase. Recently, the Chinese government held an important meeting at which it raised the poverty level from 1,196 yuan to 2,300 yuan per year. Of course, this made our poverty alleviation work more difficult, but it is something we had to do. The sum of 2,300 is roughly equivalent to one US dollar a day, which is higher than the prevailing international standard. The per capita net income of farmers and herders in Tibet is 4,700, that is to say, far above the poverty line. In addition, education and medical and health services are vigorously developing. Two statistics that directly reflect the improvement in people’s health are that life expectancy has risen from 35.5 years at the time of the peaceful liberation to 69 years now, and the population of Tibet has increased from one to three million. I particularly want to point out that the population increase is not due to an influx of Han Chinese from other parts of the country as some people claim. All the censuses we have taken, including the most recent one this year, reveal that ethnic Tibetans still comprise more than 92% of Tibet’s population.

Respecting and protecting citizens’ freedom of religious belief is a basic policy of the Chinese government. At present, there are 1,780 Tibetan Buddhist temples in Tibet, roughly one temple for every 1,600 people; and there are 46,000 Tibetan monks and nuns, about 1.5% of the population. I don’t know how many Europeans there are for every church in Europe, or what percentage of the population are members of the clergy, but I’m sure the percentages are much lower than when the Dalai Lama ruled Tibet. At that time, there were 100,000 monks and nuns in Tibet out of a population of only one million. You can easily imagine how difficult it would be for such a society to develop and progress.

At present China has excellent relations with the European Union; both sides have already established comprehensive partnerships; and there are multi-level dialogue and partnership mechanisms in place in the areas of economics, science and technology, and culture. Cooperation between China and Europe is very beneficial for both sides as well as for the whole world. Particularly now against the backdrop of the international financial crisis and the European debt crisis, it is especially necessary for China and Europe to strengthen ties, support each other, overcome difficulties together, and create a win-win situation.

Just when cooperation between China and Europe is becoming increasingly important, I am puzzled to frequently hear baseless censure of China within the European Union, but I have never heard Chinese censure the European Union for its handling of its internal affairs. The most recent example is that of a small number of members of the European Parliament who, in utter disregard to China’s interests, insisted on inviting the new head of the Dalai Lama clique’s “government-in-exile” to visit Brussels, made a show of meeting with him, and invited him to speak in the capacity of “prime minister of the Central Tibetan Administration” at a meeting of the Foreign Relations Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, where he spread nonsense about “Tibet independence.” The actions of this small number of members of the European Parliament are extremely irresponsible and violate its promise to China, and also violate prevailing norms of international relations. When the European Union recognized that Tibet is a part of Chinese territory, it no longer had the right to invite the head of a rebel group that advocates splitting China to speak at the European Parliament. I hope that those of you here, in light of the importance you place on friendly relations between China and Europe, exercise your influence to make sure that a terrible incident like this doesn’t occur again.

I was once a reporter on the People’s Daily. At that time I enjoyed asking people tough questions. So today, I welcome you to make your questions to me as tough as you like. And I hope that my comments about the new head of the government-in-exile don’t spoil anyone’s appetite.

Question: I am a member of the European External Action Service. Your visit to Brussels and your raising the questions you just raised are very important. You state that Tibet has achieved momentous development, and we are very glad to hear that. What I want to ask is: You clearly understand the great emphasis that the European Union places on human rights, and also on the preservation of traditional culture. This is why we are deeply concerned with issues concerning the preservation of human rights and culture not only within the European Union but also beyond its borders.

We are deeply concerned about the recent spate of self-immolations by Tibetan monks. In the eyes of many Europeans, this indicates that many Tibetans are in utter despair concerning the preservation of their culture. I want to emphasize that the European Union does not recognize the legitimacy of the “government-in-exile” led by its Chief Kalon. Furthermore, the European Union did not extend him an invitation; he was invited as the result of a free choice on the part of the European Parliament, which has the power to act completely independently.

Zhu Weiqun: We need to make a great effort to develop the cause of human rights in China, and we also hope our friends will give us their help. However, I must say that the Chinese government more than any other government in the world is concerned about the human rights of our own people, including Tibetans. Why did the Communist Party of China start a revolution those many years ago? One of the tasks of the revolution was to resist the invasion by imperialist countries, including some European ones. Not so long ago, some European countries twice launched wars of invasion in Tibet. In the 1904 war, the invading army used a “civilized” modern cannon in a ravine to massacre 600 of our Tibetan compatriots. At that time who among you spoke on behalf of the human rights of the Tibetan people? In 1951, some Western countries used cannons to support the Tibetan local government’s resistance to the peaceful liberation of Tibet, and in 1959 they directly encouraged and supported the Dalai Lama clique’s reactionary armed rebellion. This wasn’t just moral support but involved the airlifting of weapons and the training of special agents to oppose democratic reforms in Tibet. At that time who among you spoke on behalf of the human rights of the Tibetan people? Everything we’ve done in Tibet – including liberating the people from centuries of serfdom, raising the living standards of the people, ensuring the freedom of religious belief, and protecting and developing Tibetan culture – has been for the human rights of the Tibetan people. How much have you Westerners done in Tibet to advance human rights there? Let’s see. As I see it, many Westerners are more concerned about the privileges a small handful of feudal serf owners such as the Dalai Lama have lost than with the human rights of three million Tibetan people, and with the absolute political, economic and religious power the Dalai Lama has lost. I’m very sorry, but I don’t have the time to enumerate the human rights records of Western countries, but here we are discussing your concerns over the issue of self-immolation xx.

Since March of this year a number of self-immolations have occurred in four monasteries in Ganzi and Aba counties, Sichuan, not in Tibet. Those who have immolated themselves have all been young people 20 or younger, the youngest being just 16. These incidents shocked me deeply, and I was particularly grieved over the deaths of people so young. Not long ago I visited the monasteries where these incidents occurred to personally investigate the situation. I, along with monks and lay persons there, expressed great indignation toward those who incited and encouraged these incidents and those who instigated them behind the scenes. Self-immolations occurred at four monasteries, and there are 3,542 monasteries in Tibet and other areas where Tibetans are clustered, and there are a total of 140,000 monks and nuns. So it is not the case as the Dalai Lama clique claims that the whole of the Tibetan area is going up in flames. The vast majority of monasteries and the vast majority of monks and nuns have not participated in these incidents; on the contrary they condemn them. The Dalai Lama clique says that the Tibetan people live in misery. As far as I can see, the only one living in misery is the Dalai Lama himself. Out of 3,542 monasteries, such incidents have occurred in only four, and the majority of them occurred in just one, the Gerdi Monastery in Aba. Why? The living Buddha Gerdi at this monastery supported the Dalai Lama’s reactionary armed rebellion in 1959, and fled abroad after the rebellion was crushed. He served as the head of the “Security Department” of the Dalai Lama clique’s “government-in-exile” for many years. As is well known, this department regularly engaged in bloodshed, destruction and infiltration. The first self-immolation incident occurred on March 16 of this year. The person who set himself on fire was a 19-year-old monk who died in the incident. However, we have identified three monks who helped and incited him, and we have brought them to justice. In court, they publicly admitted that when the self-immolation occurred, they not only did not attempt to rescue the injured party but actively blocked our cadres from rescuing him because they and been confused and incited by foreign forces. They even filmed the incident and immediately sent their film to the Dalai Lama’s headquarters in Dharamsala, India. After a number of self-immolation incidents occurred, the media reported that the Dalai Lama clique was calling the unfortunate young people who had immolated themselves “heroes” and “martyrs,” and was expressing admiration for them. The clique also gave them posthumous awards and erected plaques in their honor, and the Dalai Lama himself held a day-long Buddhist religious service, fasted for a day, and called the people who immolated themselves “extraordinarily brave.” All this greatly encouraged others to follow their example. I noticed that some Western media giants, such as Reuters, Radio France International and the Voice of Germany generally have very little positive to say about us, but they all said that the Dalai Lama and his people said nothing to stop these self immolations, but rather encouraged and incited them. What is most dreadful is that Tibetan Buddhism is inherently a religion that stresses mercy and values life, but the Dalai Lama Tibet Religious Foundation, which is located in Taiwan, published an article that stated that self-immolation does not violate the Buddhist doctrine that taking life is wrong, but on the contrary is a path to becoming a Bodhisattva and that whoever immolates himself or herself will immediately become a Bodhisattva. These facts reveal that the self immolations were the result of the efforts of the Dalai Lama clique to infiltrate monasteries over a long period time and brainwash monks shut up in them without even the most basic modern education. The Dalai Lama wants to turn Tibetan Buddhism into religion of suicide and self-immolation in the service of his own political purposes. This is the basic reason these incidents happened. Didn’t you just say that these self-immolations occurred because we undermined the Tibetan culture and religion? I want you to tell me how we undermined the culture and religion of the Tibetan people. Give me your facts. I can give you many examples of how we protected and developed Tibetan culture and religion, but I want you to bring forth an example of how we have harmed them.

Will the Chinese government change its policies on its Tibet work or its attitude toward the struggle with the Dalai Lama clique because of a number of self-immolation incidents? I suggest that everyone takes a look back at history. In 1951, Tibetan upper-class reactionaries tried to block the liberation of Tibet and even dared to fight the PLA at Changdu. Even though they were defeated, in 1959 the Dalai Lama was still capable of launching an all-out armed rebellion in Tibet. In the 1960s, he was incapable of fighting us openly and directly, but he was able to harass our borders from outside the country. Eventually he couldn’t even mount such attacks, and his military base in Nepal was wiped out. In the 1980s, he still had the capability to initiate a series of riots in Lhasa, which occurred intermittently for three years. In 2008, he risked everything to launch an outburst of arson and vandalism that became known as the March 14 Incident, but we quickly restored order. Now these people are capable only of hoodwinking a few ignorant youths to immolate themselves in order to put pressure on our government. There is a popular saying in China, “A weasel’s offspring are rats; that is to say each successive generation is weaker than the one that precedes it.” Whenever any political clique sinks to the depths of deceiving its own followers in order to maintain its viability, it must be on its last legs. In this kind of situation, some people working in the European Union still tie their destiny to that of the Dalai Lama, and this is very unwise. The Dalai Lama’s inner circle has already become divided on whether to continue to dupe people into immolating themselves. Some people think this game has already been played out. I can very frankly say to all of you friends here that even if such incidents occur, again the Chinese government’s program and policy for Tibet work and its attitude in the struggle against the Dalai Lama clique will not change in the least.

Just now, you mentioned that some members of the European Parliament invited the new head of the “government-in-exile” to visit. I am fully aware of the internal organization of the European Union, and I also know that the attitude of a minority of the members of the parliament does not represent the European Union. However, as an international organization, at a time when you’re discussing democracy, shouldn’t you discuss moral principles with your members and constrain actions that harm the interests of other countries and the interests of the European Union itself? And if you can’t constrain them, shouldn’t you at least criticize them? If this kind of situation continues in which barbarous actions that are contrary to the interests of the Chinese people are met with sympathy and the people who take these actions are provided a platform to promote their actions, it will be detrimental to the reputation of the European Union. The reasons you give I have heard too many times. Every time someone does something detrimental to China’s interests, people say it was the parliament that was responsible, it was a social organization that was responsible, or it was some individual that was responsible, all of which makes it seem like the government doesn’t really govern. The Chinese government is constantly condemned for not emphasizing democracy and human rights, but we understand a basic principle of conduct: No one is permitted to damage the interests of a country friendly to China on Chinese soil, and no one is permitted at any time to gratuitously censure another person out of ignorance. This is an attitude that any responsible government should take.

Question: It is my impression that the purpose of your visit is to frankly and sincerely discuss the Tibet question. If that is so, would it be possible for the Chinese side to permit the European Union to send an investigative team of independent foreign service officials to Tibet to investigate the situation? Wouldn’t that be in accord with what you have said?

Zhu Weiqun: This is a very serious question. China is an independent country that values its national dignity and is capable of safeguarding its sovereignty and interests. We absolutely will not allow any foreign power to meddle in China’s internal affairs in any way. Frankly, I don’t believe that any country can go into another country and take control of their internal affairs, and by so doing solve any problem or benefit the people in any way. On the contrary, they invariably make matters worse, sometimes even to the point of war. China will never meddle in other countries internal affairs or demand that they must do this or that, and we cannot allow other countries to meddle in our internal affairs. Who gives you the right? You can criticize us or give us suggestions, but we will never give any foreign organization or government the right to handle our country’s internal affairs.

Of course, if a foreign official, reporter or scholar wants to go to Tibet as an individual to increase his or her understanding of the Tibetan people and their culture, we will welcome them. The Tibetan people have never closed their door to the outside world. Last year 6.85 million domestic and foreign tourists visited Tibet, 228,000 of whom were foreigners. This year, the number of tourists visiting Tibet could be as high as 7.50 million, and the number of foreign tourists will be certainly greater than last year.

Question: If we go to Tibet, can we go anywhere we want and interview anyone we want without interference?

Zhu Weiqun: It seems like you’ve never gone to Tibet. Anywhere you go, you can interview whoever you want without interference. But to be honest, Tibet is a border region, and there are border areas and military instillations, and you must observe regulations concerning them, but this accords with international practice.

Question: You would like to see the actions of these members of the European Parliament curtailed. What steps do you think could be taken to do so?

Zhu Weiqun: What steps you should take is a matter of your internal affairs. I won’t force my opinion on you. “Never try to force what you dislike onto others.” I can only suggest that the European Union could admonish those people who make careless or baseless comments. You can exhort them, can’t you, to get a better understanding of the true situation in Tibet and to speak more prudently and not be careless, and especially not to irresponsibly damage the interests of a country of 1.3 billion people with fast-growing economy. There are grave consequences for making the Chinese people unhappy. Of course, if some people are not willing to heed your admonishment, and continue to censure us groundlessly and attack us, in reality that is not all that unusual. I think it doesn’t matter whether an individual or a country constantly voices opposition to you, perhaps the best thing to do is to become more vigilant and build up your resistance.

Question: You are responsible for contacts with the Dalai Lama. Please fill us in on recent developments and your government’s judgment of the future situation.

Zhu Weiqun: Our latest round of contacts and discussions with the Dalai Lama’s personal representative began in 2002, and until now we have met ten times. Until now, these meetings have not achieved the progress that good-hearted people hope for. There are two reasons for this. The first major difference is who is going to talk to whom. The new head of the “government-in-exile” declares that the “government-in-exile” will talk only with the Chinese government. We know that the so-called government-in-exile is just the continuation of a rebel group that doesn’t have any legal standing, so we will not have any contact with it, much less hold talks with it. Our conception of talks is for the Chinese government to send someone to talk with a personal representative of the Dalai Lama. An extremely important reason why there is no way for talks to resume now is that the new head of the “government-in-exile” insists on having a hand in them. The second difference is what we can talk about and what we can’t talk about. Our attitude is perfectly clear. The Dalai Lama must first satisfy the basic demands of the central government – admit that Tibet has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times, stop all separatist activities, and acknowledge that Taiwan is a part of China – then we can discuss his personal future. The Dalai Lama proposes discussing the issue of “political independence” for Tibet and the issue of a “high degree of autonomy for Greater Tibet.” His core demand is that we turn over governance of the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau covering 25 million square kilometers to the Dalai Lama clique. There is zero chance of that ever happening. Because the central government refuses to his demand to split China, the Dalai Lama declared in 1993 and again in 2008 that he would break off talks with the central government. However, the central government has always maintained a generous attitude and has never said it would never hold talks with him. We have always left an opening for further contacts and talks. Recently, the Dalai Lama has repeatedly claimed that it is not necessary to discuss his personal situation, that he wants to discuss the issues of the “future of the six million Tibetans” and the “position of Tibet.” We say that the issues of the future of the Tibetan people and the position of Tibet were settled with the establishment of New China, and the past cannot be overturned. This rigid unreasonable attitude of the Dalai Lama is another important reason why there is no way for talks to progress or even to be held.

The Dalai Lama holds no power in his hands that can match that of the Chinese government, so why does he make such illogical demands? I think it’s because he thinks that there are countries in the world that support him. I hope that Western countries feel pity for this 77-year-old man and encourage him to abandon his impossible illusions and honestly discuss his personal future with the Chinese government. This is something meaningful that he should do. If such countries continue to encourage the grotesque and irrelevant illusions of the pitiful old Dalai Lama, the only result will be that he harms himself.

Question: Many people have a negative opinion of Catherine Ashton. What is your appraisal of the European Union’s leaders? For example, in what ways do you think the “Tibet question” and the “Taiwan question” are the same or different?

Zhu Weiqun: As for the appraisal of the leaders of the European Union, this is not a matter I concern myself with. That is a matter for the countries in the European Union and their citizens. If you want to compare Taiwan and Tibet, they have one thing in common – they are both inseparable parts of Chinese territory. The biggest difference is that Taiwan has not yet been united with the motherland on the mainland, and our policy is to use the method of “one country, two systems” to solve question and complete the great cause of uniting the Chinese nation. There has never been a question of reuniting Tibet with the rest of China. Tibet is an ethnic region or an autonomous area that is ruled by the Chinese central government, and the central government administers it the same way that it administers other provinces and autonomous regions, except that because Tibet’s economic development lags so far behind, the central government gives it more support and help. Therefore, there just isn’t any “Tibet question.” Tibet has been practicing the socialist system for more than half a century, and the next task is to further develop the outstanding features of that system to bring more benefits to the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet so they can lead better lives.

Question: You are well known in China, but do you think that when Tibetan people hear your name, it makes them happy or fearful?

Zhu Weiqun: I’m not all that well known in China. There are many cadres more capable than me. I’m on the periphery of power. That’s why I was assigned to deal the Dalai Lama problem. I have very many friends in Tibet ranging from high officials to ordinary farmers and herdsmen and old men and women. I do not doubt in the least that the Tibetan people are satisfied with my work, and wherever I go I am warmly welcomed by cadres and ordinary people of all ethnic groups. I also do not doubt that there are other people, especially members of the Dalai Lama clique abroad, who have a visceral hatred of me. But in my mind to be hated by forces that want to split our country and undermine the stability of Tibet is a badge of honor, and perhaps the greatest accomplishment of my life. If I was liked by the Dalai Lama and his underlings, including those who incited the self-immolations, that would show that everything I’ve done is wrong.

Question: I am a Chinese who has lived in Europe for more than ten years, and I have learned a lot from your remarks and I thank you very much. I feel that the image of the CPC in the minds of most Europeans is not very correct due to the influence of the Cold War. They invariably have a negative judgment of the Communist Party and Communism. In addition Tibetan exiles have worked hard to win their sympathy. So, it is a very difficult to get them to listen to what China has to say. A few minutes ago a reporter asked if it would be possible to send an independent investigative team to Tibet. This is a common viewpoint Europeans have; they harbor doubts about any leaders the CPC sends abroad. So I think that when our state leaders go abroad, they should bring a number of Tibetans with them. Perhaps Europeans will believe and understand what they say is happening in Tibet more easily.

Zhu Weiqun: In the past several years we have organized many groups of Tibetan scholars, officials and religious figures to go abroad. However, whenever they talk about the real situation in Tibet, some Europeans question and oppose what they say. I also want to say that for all China’s ethnic groups, the unity of the country is the highest goal, so the fact that my delegation doesn’t include any Tibetans doesn’t make it any less representative. As deputy executive director of the CPC Central Committee United Front Work Department, I don’t represent just the Tibetan ethnic group; I represent all 56 of China’s ethnic groups that together safeguard our country’s interests. I concur with your recommendation, and we will organize even more Tibetans to go abroad and discuss Tibet. I want to tell everyone I am just one of two vice ministers of the United Front Work Department dealing with Tibet work. The other is Sita. Tibetans comprise one third of the United Front Work Department staff dealing with Tibet work.

At present public opinion in the West leans heavily toward the Dalai Lama and away from us, and I think the reasons for this are complex. I admit that we have done too little to inform Western society about the true situation in Tibet, and our methods are in need of improvement. However, there is another reason, and you have in fact just mentioned it; Western public opinion is sometimes slanted. So people aren’t willing to admit that the CPC can succeed in ruling the country or that China can develop so quickly under the socialist system. Because they are looking at the world through colored glasses, some people are subjectively inclined to believe the Dalai Lama and not us. There’s nothing I can do to change the way such people think. All `I can do is let the facts speak for themselves, and let the facts of Tibet’s development and stability solve all questions. I believe that time is on our side.

I would like to let these two young scholars speak. Perhaps, several years from now, you will be the ones to make decisions for the European Union concerning China.

Question: The reason why the Dalai Lama can succeed in Europe is because his words strike an emotional chord with Europeans and they can understand him. By contrast, no matter what the Chinese government says they don’t really hear it. China needs to learn how to state its position in terms Europeans can understand. Europeans also need to set aside their prejudices and judge China with an open mind.

Zhu Weiqun: That’s a very good suggestion, and it shows that young people make objective judgments about world affairs. I think that after the Dalai Lama fled China in 1959, he devoted all his energy for several years to learning how to adapt to the way Westerners think and how to talk to Westerners, and he also got some coaching from Westerners in this area. This is one reason why he has had an influence in the West. However, there is in fact a more basic reason, there are political forces that support him. Some countries allocate him funds from their state treasuries on a regular schedule, and also funnel money to him through foundations, and help him to hold meetings all over the world where he gets donations from private individuals. The Dalai Lama clique itself reports that it raises more than 90% of its funds in Western countries. In judging what kind of person the Dalai Lama is, we need to take note of what he does and what he gives the Tibetan people, and compare that to what the Chinese government does in Tibet and what it gives to the Tibetan people. In a situation where people’s basic viewpoints on a question differ greatly, the best way to settle differences is to look at the facts. People who don’t respect the facts may well feel complacent for a while, but in the end they will come to grief.

Today, because I sit in the host’s seat and because I have a better grasp of information concerning Tibet, what I have said might have come across too forcefully. Whether you believe me or not doesn’t matter. However, I invite all of you to come to Tibet if you have the opportunity and see things with your own eyes and make your own judgments on the basis of the facts you observe.

 

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