The China-Dalai Lama Dialogue: Prospects for Progress

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The Congressional-Executive Commission on China held another in its series of staff-led Issues Roundtables, entitled "The China-Dalai Lama Dialogue:  Prospects for Progress" on Monday, March 13 from 2 - 3:30 PM in Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  

Tension between the Chinese government and Tibetans living in China persists as a feature of regional political, cultural, and religious life. The U.S. State Department's third annual "Report on Tibet Negotiations" noted the gravity of the issue, saying, "The lack of resolution of these problems leads to greater tensions inside China and will be a stumbling block to fuller political and economic engagement with the United States and other nations."  The Dalai Lama, now in his mid-70s, has said that he does not seek independence and aims instead for a solution based on Tibetan autonomy within China.  He has sent his envoys to meet with Chinese leaders five times starting in 2002.  Their most recent trip concluded on February 23.  So far, China's leaders do not seem to recognize the benefits of moving forward in the dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his envoys.

This Roundtable examined the China-Dalai Lama dialogue, and considered the prospects that Tibetan and Chinese leaders will find a way to move beyond trust-building measures, and toward more substantive steps that could achieve long-lasting benefits for the Chinese as well as Tibetans.