The Dalai Lama’s approach to the resolution of the Tibetan situation is known as the “Middle Way policy”. The Middle Way policy represents the Dalai Lama’s commitment to look to the future, instead of the past, to find a solution that will provide maximum autonomy for the Tibetan people and bring peace and stability to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the entire region.

History Of The Middle Way

Between 1959 and 1979, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile had a policy of pursuing the restoration of independence for Tibet. In the early 1970s the Dalai Lama began discussing an alternative approach with senior Tibetan figures including the Chair and Vice Chair of the then Tibetan People’s Deputies Assembly and the Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet). The alternative - a middle path between accepting the current situation and demanding independence from China - has its roots in the fundamental Buddhist concept of the “Middle Way”, referring to the practice of non-extremism.


In 1979 Chinese President Deng Xiaoping stated that “except independence, all other issues can be resolved through negotiations”. Seeing a fresh opportunity for a peaceful settlement that would benefit both the Tibetan and the Chinese people, the Dalai Lama responded positively and immediately to Deng’s overture. After due consultations with his exiled government the Dalai Lama put forth his Middle Way proposal for meaningful autonomy within the PRC and agreed to undertake negotiations.

Main Elements

The Dalai Lama formalised the Middle Way policy in his 1988 Strasbourg Proposal, which proposed the creation of a self-governing democratic Tibet “in association with the People’s Republic of China”. It is the official policy of the Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan Parliament in Exile.
The main elements of the Middle Way policy are:

• the creation of a genuinely autonomous Tibetan region within the People’s Republic of China which includes ethnically Tibetan areas.
• a democratically elected regional legislature and executive.
• an independent judicial system.
• the Central Government of the PRC to be responsible for the political aspects of Tibet’s international relations and defence,
• with the Tibetan people managing all other affairs, including religion and culture, education, economy, health, and ecological and environmental protection.
• the cessation of the transfer of ethnic Chinese people into Tibetan areas.
• the cessation of human rights abuses in Tibet.

Tibet-China Dialogue

Between 2002 and 2008, there were eight rounds of talks between Chinese officials and representatives of the Dalai Lama, led by his Special Envoy, Lodi Gyari. The most recent talks took place in Beijing between 31 October and 4 November 2008. The talks have produced no substantive progress towards a mutually agreeable resolution.


During the seventh round of talks, held in Beijing on 1 and 2 July 2008, Mr. Du Qinglin, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the Minister of the Central United Work Front Department, invited suggestions from the Dalai Lama for the stability and development of Tibet. In addition, Mr. Zhu Weiqun, Executive Vice Minister of the Central United Work Front Department invited “views on the degree or form of autonomy [Tibetans] are seeking as well as on all aspects of regional autonomy within the scope of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China”. During the eighth round of talks the Dalai Lama’s representatives responded by tabling a “Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People”. The memorandum was rejected by the Central United Work Front Department in its entirety.


The Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy

The memorandum provides a detailed proposal for genuine Tibetan autonomy within the scope of existing principles for regional ethnic autonomy enshrined within the Constitution of the PRC. The memorandum details eleven “subjects of government” - language, culture, religion, education, environmental protection, utilization of natural resources, economic development and trade, public health and public security, regulation on population migration and cultural, educational and religious exchanges with other countries - and proposes a single administration for the Tibetan nationality in the PRC. The memorandum proposes the next step in the Tibet-China dialogue be an “agreement to start serious discussions on the points raised in this memorandum” and proposes that the parties “discuss and agree on a mutually agreeable mechanism or mechanisms and a timetable to do so effectively”.


Support for the Middle Way

The Middle Way caused some controversy within the Tibetan exile community, with some Tibetans continuing to support a policy of full independence. In November 2008 the Dalai Lama convened a special meeting of over 500 Tibetan exiles, including community leaders, government officials, lamas, scholars and newly arrived refugees, to determine a future course for the Tibet movement in light of the lack of progress in the Tibet-China dialogue. The opinions of over 17,000 individuals inside Tibet were also canvassed ahead of the meeting.

The summit affirmed majority support for the Middle Way policy while legitimising self-determination and full independence as valid options should the Middle Way fail to bring results. It was also agreed that the Dalai Lama should continue to take the main responsibility for pursuing negotiations and reconciliation with the Chinese government. The meeting was an important step towards the full democratization of the Tibetan movement.