China 'appreciates' Indian stand on Tibet

I / Beijing March 11, 2010, 18:03 IST

China today appreciated the stand of the Indian government recognising Tibet autonomous region as an integral part of China and New Delhi’s assertion not to allow "Tibetan separatist" activities in the country.

"The Indian government has said that the Tibet Autonomous Region is an integral part of Chinese territory and that they do not allow Tibetan separatist activities in India. We express our appreciation to the Indian side," Jiang Yu, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said today.

She was replying to a question whether Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama’s speech on the 51st anniversary of the Tibetans' National Uprising Day yesterday had any negative impact on China’s ties with India and does Beijing think that New Delhi is doing enough to restrict the Tibetan separatist activities.

"China and India are the promoters of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. One of the principles is mutual respect for each others’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope China and India can develop conducive and comprehensive relations," she said.

The 74-year-old exiled spiritual leader accused China of trying to deliberately "annihilate Buddhism" in Tibet by conducting a campaign of patriotic re-education in monasteries there.

"Today, the Chinese authorities are conducting various political campaigns, including a campaign of patriotic re-education in many monasteries in Tibet. They are putting the monks and nuns in prison-like conditions depriving them the opportunity to study and practise in peace," he said in a statement in the Indian northern town of Dharamsala in India.

On the 51st anniversary of the Tibetans' National Uprising Day, the Dalai Lama said these conditions "make the monasteries function more like museums and are intended to deliberately annihilate Buddhism".

On attempt by Tibetan protesters to enter Chinese embassy in New Delhi, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said: "On March 10, Tibet independence forces attacked some Chinese diplomatic missions overseas. This further exposed the nature of the separatist forces against China. Basic laws governing diplomatic relations entail that countries need to respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Jiang underlined that no country in the world recognises the so-called Tibetan government in exile and no country recognises the independence of Tibet.

"Many countries have explicitly expressed their opposition to Tibetan independence and expressed opposition to activities by the Tibetan separatists," the official said.

"We express our appreciation to their position,” she said and reminded that Vienna conventions warranted that diplomatic personnel and missions be protected.

To another question, she said “on March 10, in India and some other countries, the Tibet independence forces tried to attack the Chinese embassies".

"Their attempts did not succeed and will not succeed in the future. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect diplomatic missions and personnel is an integral part of relations between different countries which does not need any consultation any more," the foreign ministry spokesperson underlined.

Asked whether Beijing thought that US government is doing enough to curtail activities of Rubiya Kadeer, head of the World Uyghur Congress, whom Beijing blames for separatist violence in Xinxiang province, Jiang said asked the international community to respect the core interests of China.

“No matter what Dalai Lama or the Xinjiang separatist forces do to separate the country, we urge all countries not to give any kind of support to these forces and respect the core interests of China and China’s concerns," she said.

Chinese officials, meanwhile, hit back at the Dalai Lama for his allegations that Buddhists were living in prison-like conditions and expressed sympathy with the people of Xinjiang.

"He is just using Xinjiang and Tibet as platforms to achieve his goal to separate China," said Doje Cezhug, the Mayor of Tibet capital Lhasa.

"We are prepared to face more disturbance and sabotage from Dalai Lama clique but we wont let them disrupt the region’s development," the Mayor said.

"Let Dalai Lama say whatever he wants. We will carry on what we do," said Padma Choling, Governor of Tibet.