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| Are there signs of thaw between China and the exiled Dalai Lama on Tibet? | Are there signs of thaw between China and the exiled Dalai Lama on Tibet? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| DHARMSALA, India — The Dalai Lama Thursday said that informal talks with the Chinese are continuing over his possible return to his homeland of Tibet — if only for a visit — and cautiously praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as a realist. | DHARMSALA, India — The Dalai Lama Thursday said that informal talks with the Chinese are continuing over his possible return to his homeland of Tibet — if only for a visit — and cautiously praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as a realist. |
| The Dalai Lama, 79, sat down for a brief interview in his temple in the north Indian town of Dharmsala before a celebration of the 25 th anniversary his Nobel Peace Prize, after a month of media speculation of a thaw between the exiled leader and the Chinese government. | |
| The two sides have sparred for years over the future of Tibet; the Dalai Lama argues for autonomy for the Himalayan region he fled in 1959 while the Chinese accuse him of being a separatist. Just this week, another gathering of Nobel winners was canceled in South Africa after that country denied giving the Dalai Lama a visa, reportedly under pressure from China. | The two sides have sparred for years over the future of Tibet; the Dalai Lama argues for autonomy for the Himalayan region he fled in 1959 while the Chinese accuse him of being a separatist. Just this week, another gathering of Nobel winners was canceled in South Africa after that country denied giving the Dalai Lama a visa, reportedly under pressure from China. |
| Yet in recent days, speculation of improved relations between China and the Dalai Lama was fueled by remarks given by a Community Party under secretary who confirmed talks of the spiritual leader’s return to his homeland were well underway. In September, a popular Chinese Web site briefly displayed an article that said that the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of millions of Tibetans, may return for a visit to a Buddhist shrine and meet party leaders. | Yet in recent days, speculation of improved relations between China and the Dalai Lama was fueled by remarks given by a Community Party under secretary who confirmed talks of the spiritual leader’s return to his homeland were well underway. In September, a popular Chinese Web site briefly displayed an article that said that the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of millions of Tibetans, may return for a visit to a Buddhist shrine and meet party leaders. |
| The Dalai Lama also contributed to the media hubbub, praising Xi as more “realistic” and “open-minded” than his predecessors while Xi was on a high-profile trip to India in September. On Thursday, the Dalai Lama again praised Xi for having “courageously tackled” the problem of government corruption. But he voiced concern over China’s imprisonment of dissidents. | The Dalai Lama also contributed to the media hubbub, praising Xi as more “realistic” and “open-minded” than his predecessors while Xi was on a high-profile trip to India in September. On Thursday, the Dalai Lama again praised Xi for having “courageously tackled” the problem of government corruption. But he voiced concern over China’s imprisonment of dissidents. |
| “The thing to say is that he’s approached these problems more realistically,” than other leaders in the past, the Dalai Lama said of Xi. Xi’s past praise of the Buddhist faith has also given the spiritual leader of millions Tibetan Buddhists hope they could find common ground. | “The thing to say is that he’s approached these problems more realistically,” than other leaders in the past, the Dalai Lama said of Xi. Xi’s past praise of the Buddhist faith has also given the spiritual leader of millions Tibetan Buddhists hope they could find common ground. |
| “This is something new for a communist party leader to say something about spirituality,” the Dalai Lama noted. “We’ll see. I have some optimistic view. Still too early to say.” | “This is something new for a communist party leader to say something about spirituality,” the Dalai Lama noted. “We’ll see. I have some optimistic view. Still too early to say.” |
| The Dalai Lama, 79, said that informal talks were continuing on the possibility of his return to his home country, where he has not lived since he fled during an anti-Chinese uprising in 1959. He has long said he longs to take a pilgrimage to see the sacred Wu Thai Shan, a sacred mountain in Central China. | The Dalai Lama, 79, said that informal talks were continuing on the possibility of his return to his home country, where he has not lived since he fled during an anti-Chinese uprising in 1959. He has long said he longs to take a pilgrimage to see the sacred Wu Thai Shan, a sacred mountain in Central China. |
| “It’s not yet finalized but the plan is there,” he said. Then he quipped: “As soon as something is finalized, I’ll let you know.” | “It’s not yet finalized but the plan is there,” he said. Then he quipped: “As soon as something is finalized, I’ll let you know.” |
| The talks are proceeding with retired Chinese military officials and business leaders, “not formally or seriously but informally. I’ve expressed my desire,” he said. | The talks are proceeding with retired Chinese military officials and business leaders, “not formally or seriously but informally. I’ve expressed my desire,” he said. |
| Some Tibet experts have scoffed at reports about an improvement in the relationship between China and the Dalai Lama, noting that China’s strategy has long been to wait until the Dalai Lama dies to resolve the Tibet issue — as well as that of the holy man’s successor. The Dalai Lama has said that his successor should be chosen by the Tibetan people, a desire which, if not adhered to by the Chinese government, could result in widespread unrest. | Some Tibet experts have scoffed at reports about an improvement in the relationship between China and the Dalai Lama, noting that China’s strategy has long been to wait until the Dalai Lama dies to resolve the Tibet issue — as well as that of the holy man’s successor. The Dalai Lama has said that his successor should be chosen by the Tibetan people, a desire which, if not adhered to by the Chinese government, could result in widespread unrest. |
| The Dalai Lama and Tibet’s government in exile launched a high-profile campaign in June to promote his “Middle Way Approach,” which advocates for greater autonomy for Tibet but not complete independence. But finding complete support in the fractious Tibetan community around the hilly Indian town of Dharmsala has been difficult, according to Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of Tibet’s government in exile. Most younger activists from the Tibetan Youth Congress and others continue to call for complete independence for Tibet. | The Dalai Lama and Tibet’s government in exile launched a high-profile campaign in June to promote his “Middle Way Approach,” which advocates for greater autonomy for Tibet but not complete independence. But finding complete support in the fractious Tibetan community around the hilly Indian town of Dharmsala has been difficult, according to Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of Tibet’s government in exile. Most younger activists from the Tibetan Youth Congress and others continue to call for complete independence for Tibet. |
| Meanwhile, the Chinese have continued to increase their control over the Tibetan region, with a new railway line that will give greater access to its rich natural resources opening last month. Foreign travel is still greatly restricted. And more than 130 people have self-immolated to protest the Dalai Lama’s exile and for freedom for Tibet since 2009, including two on the day of Xi’s visit to Delhi. | Meanwhile, the Chinese have continued to increase their control over the Tibetan region, with a new railway line that will give greater access to its rich natural resources opening last month. Foreign travel is still greatly restricted. And more than 130 people have self-immolated to protest the Dalai Lama’s exile and for freedom for Tibet since 2009, including two on the day of Xi’s visit to Delhi. |
| Elsewhere, the streets of Hong Kong have been filled with pro-democracy protesters angry about Chinese authority. | Elsewhere, the streets of Hong Kong have been filled with pro-democracy protesters angry about Chinese authority. |
| The Dalai Lama said he had been closely watching the events in that city unfold. | The Dalai Lama said he had been closely watching the events in that city unfold. |
| “I’m seriously watching the situation, but it's very ,very complicated and it’s difficult to say why,” he said. “My wish is that the problem be solved peacefully with mutual benefit. That’s the only thing I can do is pray.” | “I’m seriously watching the situation, but it's very ,very complicated and it’s difficult to say why,” he said. “My wish is that the problem be solved peacefully with mutual benefit. That’s the only thing I can do is pray.” |