International Campaign for Tibet

United States Reiterates Support for Dialogue to Resolve Tibetan Issue

The United States has called for direct and substantive discussions without preconditions between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government. In its annual Report on Tibet Negotiations submitted belatedly to Congress in August 2010, the U.S. State Department wrote, “Encouraging substantive dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama is an important foreign policy objective of the United States.”

“This report highlights the imperative the U.S. government places on negotiation to resolve the Tibet issue,” said Todd Stein, Director of Government Relations at the International Campaign for Tibet. “The challenge is for the White House and the State Department, coordinating with other governments, to explore creative approaches that help the Tibetan and Chinese sides find common ground in order to make substantive progress toward a solution.”

The report termed the ninth round of dialogue between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and Chinese officials in January 2010 as a “positive step.” At the same time, it stated that “we are disappointed that eight years of talks have not borne concrete results.” Further, it said, “we continue to urge both sides to engage in substantive dialogue and hope to see a tenth round of dialogue that will lead to positive movement on questions related to Tibetans’ lives and livelihoods.”

“The Tibet negotiations report is a manifestation of the United States government’s long-standing interest in bringing a peaceful solution to the Tibet issue,” said Todd Stein. “Inherent is a recognition that constructive and visible engagement with the Chinese Government on Tibet, in addition to quiet diplomacy, can yield positive consequences and provide hope to Tibetans and Chinese that a peaceful solution is possible.”

The report details four meetings that President Obama had with Chinese leaders in 2009 during which he raised the Tibetan issue. It also stated that President Obama commended the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way approach during their meeting in February 2010.

The report also deals at length with steps taken by the President as well as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Maria Otero and other officials “to encourage the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet.”

It also highlights the status of discussions between the two sides and also details its history. It refers to the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People that the Tibetan side submitted during the eighth round of talks in October-November 2008 “which clarified their understanding of ‘genuine autonomy.’”

The Tibet negotiations report is required by the Tibet Policy Act of 2002. It is due to be submitted to Congress by March of each year, but was delayed by five months this year.

[See also: State Department Annual Reports on Tibet]