White paper on Tibet denounces ‘middle way’
The Chinese government on Wednesday has issued a white paper on Tibet, which rejected the “middle way” path advocated by the Dalai Lama.
Titled “Tibet’s Path of Development Is Driven by an Irresistible Historical Tide”, the document observes that rather than pursuing autonomy, the “middle way” of Dalai Lama is a cover for gaining independence. Xinhua reported that the “middle way” negates a sound developmental path and is an attempt to establish a “state within a state” on Chinese territory as an interim step towards the ultimate goal of full independence.
The white paper states that in tune with the improvement of relations between China and the United States in late 1970s, Dalai Lama’s group shifted its attempts from achieving open independence to achieving disguised independence by cloaking them with what is called the “middle way.” The document counselled that, “The only sensible alternative is for the Dalai Lama and his supporters to accept that Tibet has been part of China since antiquity, to abandon their goals of dividing China and seeking independence for Tibet, and to begin to act in the interests of Tibet and the country at large.”
The government said that the Dalai Lama and his supporters had little understanding of modern Tibet and, instead, held “a sentimental attachment to the old theocratic feudal serfdom”.
An e-mailed response from Dharamsala , where Dalai Lama lives in exile said that the “middle way Policy seeks genuine autonomy within the framework of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China which is a win-win proposition for all parties and one lauded throughout the world including various governments”.
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