1979
1979 - Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping invites Gyalo Thondup, elder brother of the Dalai Lama, to Beijing and conveys the message that other than the issue of independence all other issues relating to Tibet can be discussed and resolved.
August 5, 1979 - First fact-finding delegation of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, led by Kalon Juchen Thubten Namgyal, begins tour of Tibet.
1980
May 1, 1980 - Second fact-finding delegation from the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, led by Representative Tenzin N. Tethong, begins tour of Tibet.
July 1, 1980 - Third fact-finding delegation from the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, led by Mrs. Jetsun Pema, younger sister of the Dalai Lama, begins tour of Tibet.
1981
March 13, 1981 - The Dalai Lama states in a letter to Deng Xiaoping that the three fact-finding missions found "sad conditions" in Tibet and therefore "genuine efforts must be made to solve the problem in accordance with the existing realities in a reasonable way."
July, 1981 - CCP General Secretary Hu Yaobang announces "China's Five-point Policy toward the Dalai Lama". Asking "the Dalai Lama and his followers to come back", it says: "The Dalai Lama will enjoy the same political status and living conditions as he had before 1959. It is suggested that he not go to live in Tibet or hold local posts there. Of course, he may go back to Tibet from time to time. His followers need not worry about their jobs and living conditions. These will only be better than before."
1982
April 24, 1982 - A high level Tibetan delegation arrives in Beijing to hold exploratory talks with Chinese officials. The delegation, composed of P.T. Taklha, Juchen Thubten Namgyal and Lodi Gyari, made no substantive headway.
1984
October 19, 1984 - The three-member exploratory delegation holds a second round of talks with Chinese leaders. Again, no progress toward substantive negotiations are made.
1985
Fourth fact-finding delegation from the exile Tibetan government tours Tibet, led by Kasur W.D. Kundeling.
July 24, 1985 - 91 Members of the U.S. Congress sign a letter, urging Chinese President Li Xianian to initiate talks between China and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
1987
September 21, 1987 - The Dalai Lama presents a Five-Point Peace Plan on solving the Tibetan problem to the U.S. Congress. The plan includes a call for commencement of earnest negotiations on the future status of Tibet.
December 22, 1987 - The United States Foreign Relations Authorization Act declares that the U.S. "should urge the Government of China to actively reciprocate the Dalai Lama's efforts to establish a constructive dialogue on the future of Tibet."
1988
June 15, 1988 - The Dalai Lama presents his Strasbourg Proposal as a framework for a negotiated solution to the Tibetan problem, at the European Parliament. He also mentioned that a negotiating team is ready to meet with the Chinese side on the basis of Deng Xiaoping's statements.
September 21, 1988 - China responds indirectly to the Strasbourg proposal with an offer to talk. In a press statement, the Chinese side said: "We welcome the Dalai Lama to have talks with the central government at any time, and talks may be held in Beijing, Hong Kong or any of our embassies or consulates abroad. If the Dalai Lama finds it inconvenient to conduct talks at these places. He may choose any place he wishes." The offer makes the talks conditional on the Dalai Lama "drop[ping] the idea of an independent Tibet."
September 23, l988 - Tibetan representatives convey the following response to the Sept. 21 Chinese message: "We welcome China's positive response to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's call for talks on the Tibetan issue. We similarly welcome their leaving the choice of the venue for the talks to us. We would like the talks to be held in Geneva, Switzerland which is most convenient and neutral venue. We would also like the first round of talks to be held in January 1989".
1989
January, 1989 - China backs out of the proposed talks.
April 20,1989 - the Tibetan Government-in-Exile announces that "His Holiness the Dalai Lama is prepared to send representatives to Hong Kong at any time" to meet with Chinese representative in order to resolve any procedural issue with regard to starting negotiations.
March 15, 1989 - U.S. Senate Resolution 82 calls upon the Chinese government to "meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama to begin initiating constructive dialogue on the future of Tibet."
1991
October 9, 1991 - In an address at Yale University, the Dalai Lama expresses his desire to visit Tibet as early as possible to personally ascertain the situation and help the Chinese leadership to understand the true feelings of Tibetans.
October 10, 1991 - The Chinese Foreign Ministry imposes the following conditions before he can return to Tibet: "The most important thing is that the Dalai Lama stop his activities aimed at splitting China and undermining the unity of its nationalities, and abandon his position on Tibetan independence."
1992
June 22, 1992 - Ding Guangen, head of the United Front Department of the CCP Central Committee, meets Gyalo Thondup and reiterates the 1979 statement that they are willing to discuss any issue with the Tibetans except total independence.
1993
May 28, 1993 - The White House report to Congress on the extension of the Most Favored Nation status (MFN) to China lists "[s]eeking to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives" as favourable step China should take to ensure MFN renewal.
June, 1993 - Dharamsala sends a two-member delegation to China to clear the misunderstandings raised by the Chinese leaders during their meeting with Thondup. The delegation carries a 13-point memorandum from the Dalai Lama, addressed to Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin. In the memorandum, the Dalai Lama chronicles his efforts to resolve the problem of Tibet through peaceful negotiations and says, "If we Tibetans obtain our basic rights to our satisfaction, then we are not incapable of seeing the possible advantages of living with the Chinese." In the same year, China severs all formal channels of communication with Dharamsala. However, informal and semi-official channels continue to remain open.
1994
April 28, 1994 - The Dalai Lama meets with President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore in the White House. The White House states that President Clinton met the Dalai Lama "to inquire about efforts to initiate a dialogue with the Chinese leadership" among other topics. It also says: "The United States continues to urge high level talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama."
1995
November, 1995 - China tries to usurp the right to choose the next incarnation of the important Tibetan religious figure, the Panchen Lama. Relations between Beijing and Dharamsala deteriorates.
1997
July, 1997 - The Clinton Administration announces its intention to establish a new position in the Department of State, Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, to handle the Tibetan issue. A central objective of the position is to promote dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government to resolve the issue of Tibet.
October, 1997 - During the US-China Summit in Washington, D.C., President Clinton presses Chinese President Jiang Zemin to initiate talks with the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan problem emerges as one of the top issues that the American people identify with Sino-U.S. relations.
October 31, 1997 - Mr. Greg Craig is appointed the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issue at the US Department of State.
1998
April 30, 1998 - Secretary of State Madeleine Albright makes it clear to President Jiang Zemin that Tibet is a high priority of the U.S. government for the June Summit in Beijing. "What we urge is a dialogue with the Dalai Lama," Albright told a news conference after her meeting.
June 27, 1998 - US President Bill Clinton urges Jiang Zemin to meet the Dalai Lama and open talks with him, during a press conference in Beijing. Televised live throughout China, Jiang Zemin admits to the existence of unofficial channels of communication and says "door to negotiation is open"
2001
January 28, 2001 - The Dalai Lama tells AFP that his latest efforts to send a delegation to China to pursue a substantial dialogue with Chinese leaders had produced no response from Beijing.
The Dalai Lama's elder brother had traveled to Beijing in late October --reopening contact after a two-year freeze -- after which the Dalai Lama proposed sending a full delegation to the Chinese capital. He said the Chinese welcomed his brother to come again, but the Dalai Lama added, "If my brother goes again, some people might get the wrong impression. "This is an issue for the whole Tibetan community, so sending some people from a Tibetan organization would be more appropriate."
2002
September 9-24, 2002 - Following a nine-year impasse, contact between Beijing and the Tibetan-government-in-exile resumes when the Dalai Lama's Special Envoy, Lodi Gyari, leads a delegation of four to Beijing and Lhasa. The trip is intended to create an atmosphere conducive for substantive negotiations. The team includes Kelsang Gyaltsen, Envoy of the Dalai Lama and two senior assistants, Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K. Tsering.
September 30, 2002 - President Bush signs into law a foreign policy bill that includes the Tibetan Policy Act. The Tibetan Policy Act expresses both programmatic and political support for the Tibetan people, including that the President and Secretary of State should initiate steps to encourage the Government of the People's Republic of China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet; and after such an agreement is reached, the President and Secretary of State should work to ensure compliance with the agreement.
2003
May 25-June 8, 2003 - A second round of talks is held between envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership during the Tibetan team's trip to Beijing and parts of Tibet. The Tibetans characterize the nature of these trips as "confidence building measures".
2004
September 12-29, 2004 - A third round of talks is held between envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership during the Tibetan team's trip to Beijing and parts of Tibet The international community views these visits as positive steps forward, but few governments make legitimate efforts to bring both parties to the negotiation table.
May 23, 2004 - The Chinese government issues a 30-page White Paper on Tibet aimed at dampening expectations by Tibetans for genuine autonomy. The White Paper is seen as a negotiating tactic that underscores the resistance of hardliners to move forward in good faith.
2005
June 30, July 1, 2005 - A fourth round of meetings between the Tibetan team and the Chinese leadership is held in Bern, Switzerland. The Tibetans say that the trip is designed to "move the ongoing process to a new level of engagement aimed at bringing about substantive negotiations to achieve a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan issue". Meanwhile, China continues publicly criticize the Dalai Lama and reiterates its long-standing preconditions to negotiations.
July 10, 2005 - During a visit to China, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asks Chinese leaders to "reach out to the Dalai Lama", saying that the exiled Tibetan leader is no threat to China.
October 11, 2005 - In its annual report for 2005, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said, "The future of Tibetans and their religion, language, and culture depends on fair and equitable decisions about future policies that can only be achieved through dialogue. The Dalai Lama is essential to this dialogue. To help the parties build on visits and dialogue held in 2003, 2004, and 2005, the President and the Congress should urge the Chinese government to move the current dialogue toward deeper, substantive discussions with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, and encourage direct contact between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership."
Sourced in part from: "Dharamsala and Beijing; Countdown to Negotiation," in Tibetan Bulletin, October-December 1998
