China Defends It’s Communist Policy on Tibet Ahead of the Dalai Lama 60th Anniversary in Exile

NEPAL – Nearly Six decades after seizing power in Tibet, Beijing has praised its development efforts and slammed the Dalai Lama’s exile government. The US and others say China has overseen widespread rights abuses in the region.

Chinese officials countered criticism over human rights concerns in Tibet on Wednesday, praising the efforts to modernize the region

The comments follow a US report that says China “systematically impeded travel” to Tibet and comes ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s flight into exile.

China’s Defense of Tibet policy:

Beijing released a policy paper on Wednesday marking 60 years of what China calls “democratic reforms” in Tibet.
China claims to have “peacefully liberated” Tibet in 1950 and that the military intervention helped to end feudal practices there.

An official emphasized efforts to bring the region into the modern era, including improvements in healthcare, the economy and education.
They also denied there was significant support for Tibetan independence.

Dalai Lama’s ‘Bewitchment’s’

Deputy Tibet governor Norbu Dondrup criticized the Dalai Lama and his exiled government, saying that Tibetan society was “very cruel” before Communist Rule.

“The Dalai Lama attacking our human rights totally has ulterior motives. He tramples on human rights, and has no right, no qualifications, and is unworthy of talking about human rights,” he said.

“As for some countries slamming our human rights, they either don’t understand or believe the Dalai clique’s rumors and bewitchments,” Norbu Dondrup added.

60 Years in Exile

The Dalai Lama is 83-year-old the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, who Beijing views as a dangerous separatist. On March 31, 1959, he crossed the border into India following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.

Concerns are growing over who will succeed the Dalai Lama when he dies. China has said the Communist Party must approve his reincarnation — and future ones. Last week, Dalai Lama told Reuters news agency that any successor named by China would not be respected and that his incarnation could be found in India.

US says China Blocked Travel

On Monday, the US State Department released a report that said the Chinese government “systematically impeded travel” to Tibet for US diplomats and officials as well as journalists and tourists in 2018.

The Tibet issue has become one of many points of contention between Washington and Beijing. In December, US President Donald Trump signed off on a law that denies entry into the US to Chinese officials that are deemed responsible for restricting travel to Tibet.

A Tireless Traveler

The Dalai Lama is a tireless traveler who maintains good relations with the international community. The spiritual leader does not have much power, but he uses his close ties to politicians, celebrities and leaders for the cause of Tibetan autonomy. But meeting with the Dalai Lama can be tricky for world leaders because of the likelihood of straining relations with China.

By Deutsche Welle, Reuters