Liaowang Xizang, the Chinese-language journal published from Washington, D.C., has discussed the changing perception of the Dalai Lama in the Chinese community, in its latest issue (Issue # 5), mailed to subscribers in December 2003.

China’s leading theoretician, Su Shaozhi, now residing in the United States, analyzes the Dalai Lama’s political initiatives on resolving the Tibetan issue and concludes that China needs to find a solution during the lifetime of the Dalai Lama. He says the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach is to the advantage of China. He asked his fellow Chinese not to be perturbed when they hear that the Dalai Lama is asking for a solution encompassing all Tibetan areas, including those in Qinghai, Yunnan, Sichuan. He said if the Middle Way Approach is realized then these areas will become genuine autonomy as they are already listed as autonomous currently. He said that the Tibet issue should be settled by serious negotiation while the Dalai Lama is alive.

Su also asked the Chinese Government not to be afraid of the Dalai Lama’s return. The Dalai Lama, he said, is someone who practices what he preaches.

Cai Yongmei, executive editor of Hong Kong’s Open magazine, in the article “The Miracle Created by the Dalai Lama” said his approach was beyond conventional political concept and took into consideration Chinese interests in addition to Tibetan interests. Cai said the Middle Way Approach will enable Tibetans to have freedom and to practice their religion and culture. She said it would only be China’s loss if they think they can await the passing away of the Dalai Lama to resolve the Tibetan issue.

Cai said Chinese democrats should pressure the Chinese government to start talks with the Dalai Lama.

Jiang Luqing, special reporter of Chinese magazine Duowei Times, in his article, “Where does the great Charisma of the Dalai Lama come from?” reported on the Dalai Lama’s public address in Central Park in New York city in September 2003. He talked to many Chinese and others at the park about their feelings. A Chinese gentleman said he admired the Dalai Lama because his talks went beyond religion, politics as well as the issue of Tibet. He said the Dalai Lama taught in simple language about how we can bring about world peace and love one another. Jiang opined that the diverse groups of people who came to listen to the Dalai Lama indicated their support for his peace initiatives.

Lan Tian, a commentator for Voice of America, in his article, “About the Dalai Lama’s visit to the U.S.,” discusses the American public’s reception to the Dalai Lama during his September 2003 visit. He criticized the Chinese government’s condemnation of the Dalai Lama’s U.S. visit saying that this is only beneficial to China.

Moli, a Europe-based Chinese writer, in her article, “A Headache Issue for the Tibet Government in Exile,” talked about the struggle for Tibetan independence in the Tibetan community and how this was a challenge to the Middle Way Approach. She also talked about the support for Tibetan independence by Westerners and the background of these supporters.

The issue also contains reports on the Dalai Lama’s United States visit in September 2003, including his meeting with President Bush as well as his public talks in Washington, D.C., Boston and New York attended by a large number of people.

It also reports on the sixth session of the Tibetan Parliament in Dharamsala during which the Tibet-China contact was discussed.

In the news section, the journal carried reports on the Fourth Tibet Support Group Conference holds in Prague; a panel discussion on the future of Tibet in New York participated by Tibetans, Chinese and American Tibetologists and the publication of the Chinese translation of the biography of former Tibetan political prisoner Palden Gyatso.

The journal continued with the biography of Lobsang Tashi, the Chinese colonel who defected to the Tibetan resistance force in the late 1950s.