Secretary Condoleezza Rice has expressed sadness at the Chinese action on peaceful Tibetan protests and has urged China “to address policies in Tibetan areas that have created tensions due to their impact on Tibetan religion, culture, and livelihoods.”

In a statement on March 15, 2008, Secretary Rice said, “President Bush has consistently encouraged the Chinese government to engage in substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama directly and through his representatives so that long-standing issues with regard to Tibet may be resolved.”

Following is Secretary Rice’s full statement.

Call for Calm in Tibet

Statement by Secretary Condoleezza Rice

March 15, 2008

Washington, DC

I am deeply saddened to learn that the turmoil that erupted yesterday in Lhasa followingwhat began as peaceful protests has resulted in the loss of lives, and I am concernedthat the violence appears to be continuing. I also am concerned by reports of a sharplyincreased police and military presence in and around Lhasa. We call on the Chinesegovernment to exercise restraint in dealing with these protests, and we strongly urge allsides to refrain from violence.

President Bush has consistently encouraged the Chinese government to engage insubstantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama directly and through his representatives so thatlong-standing issues with regard to Tibet may be resolved. We urge China to respect thefundamental and universally recognized right of all of its citizens to peacefully expresstheir political and religious views, and we call on China to release monks and others whohave been detained solely for the peaceful expression of their views. We also urge Chinato address policies in Tibetan areas that have created tensions due to their impact onTibetan religion, culture, and livelihoods.