A Possible Shift in China’s Policy Toward the Dalai Lama
At Newsweek, Sudip Mazumdar writes that the government of China appears to be re-evaluating its policy toward Tibet, and also its policy toward His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
China, slowly and reluctantly, has come to two painful conclusions, Mazumdar says. First, the stability and development of Tibet are essential to China's future. Second, China has been mishandling Tibet all along.
It is true that China has invested many billions of dollars in Tibet. For this, they expected the Tibetans' loyalty and gratitude. But China also has treated Tibet as a colony run by and for ethnic Han Chinese, with Tibetans locked out of most positions of authority and the better-paying jobs. And, of course, the repression of Tibetan Buddhism and exile of the Dalai Lama remain causes of discontent.
A Possible Shift in China's Policy Toward the Dalai Lama originally appeared on About.com Buddhism on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 14:34:03.
