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 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. The Dalai Lama’s adoption of the Middle Way policy dates back to 1979, following Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s statement that “except independence, all other issues can be resolved through negotiations”. The Dalai Lama responded positively and immediately to Deng’s overture, because he felt it offered a fresh opportunity for a peaceful settlement that would benefit both the Tibetan and the Chinese people.
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”. Although the Strasbourg Proposal initially caused controversy within the Tibetan exile community, the Middle Way policy has now been adopted by the elected exile government and parliament. It has also been agreed that the Dalai Lama should take the main responsibility for pursuing negotiations and reconciliation with the Chinese government.
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.
Dialogue
Between 2002 and 2007, there were six rounds of talks between Chinese officials and representatives of the Dalai Lama, led by his Special Envoy, Lodi Gyari. These talks were held in China and Europe, and included visits to Tibetan and other “minority areas”. The most recent talks took place in June 2007.
No date has been set for the next round of talks. The Chinese government has instead resumed fierce public criticism of the Dalai Lama through its state-controlled media. Despite repeated assurances from the Dalai Lama that he is not seeking independence for Tibet, China continues to label him a “dangerous separatist”.
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President Bush, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Byrd, my fellow Laureate Elie Wiesel, Honorable Members of Congress, Brothers and Sisters.
It is a great honor for me to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition will bring tremendous joy and encouragement to the Tibetan people, for whom I have a special responsibility. Their welfare is my constant motivation and I always consider myself as their free spokesperson. I believe that this award also sends a powerful message to those many individuals who are dedicated to promoting peace, understanding and harmony. |
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Following is the full text of the interview of Lodi Gyari, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy, taken before the Tibetan delegations visited China earlier this month for the sixth round of talks with the Chinese government. At the time of the interview, the date for the sixth round of talks, which took place in Shanghai in early July, was not confirmed. |
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A motion on the Sino-Tibetan dialogue has been presented to the Scottish Parliament calling for “pragmatic solutions that respect the Chinese constitutional framework and the territorial integrity of China and fulfil the aspirations of the Tibetan people for a unified and genuinely autonomous Tibet.” |
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It has been the consistent position of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that the question of Tibet must be resolved peacefully through dialogue with the best interest of the Tibetan people in mind. |
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 The Middle Way Approach is proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet and to bring about stability and co-existence between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples based on equality and mutual co-operation.
It is also a policy adopted democratically by the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people through a series of discussions held over a long time.
This brief introduction to the Middle Way policy and its history is intended for the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet - and all those interested - to have a better understanding of the issues involved. |
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