As China shouts its line on Tibet, is anybody listening?
By David Bandurski — Tibet is a touchy tinderbox of a subject — not to mention an incredibly complex one — and so we have long avoided mention of the “T” word on our project Website. Sifting through Chinese news coverage, however, is our raison d’être at the China Media Project. And as we’ve gone about minding our daily business in recent days, the headlines have doggedly clamored for our attention:
In People’s Daily: “Treasuring the fruits of democratic reform: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of millions of Tibetan serfs”
In Guangming Daily: “Treasuring the fruits of democratic reform: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of millions of Tibetan serfs”
In Economic Daily: “Treasuring the fruits of democratic reform: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of millions of Tibetan serfs”
At Xinhua Online: “Treasuring the fruits of democratic reform: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of millions of Tibetan serfs”
In Sichuan Daily: “Treasuring the fruits of democratic reform: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of millions of Tibetan serfs”
. . . and in Zhejiang Daily, People’s Daily Online, Gansu Daily, Beijing Daily, CPPCC Daily, CCTV.com, Qinghai Daily, Science & Technology Daily . . .
[ABOVE: "Megaphone" by Just Marc, available at Flickr.com under Creative Commons license.]
The list goes on and on. The above article, amplified across scores of official newspapers yesterday, even got a steroid injection of pre-publicity on Sunday’s official nightly newscast at China Central Television.
You can’t buy that kind of publicity — unless, of course, you’re an authoritarian government.
We don’t mean to dredge up that old wisdom — Vladimir Lenin’s, wasn’t it? — about how, if you repeat a lie often enough, people will begin to believe it. This isn’t a provocative post about whether the CCP has its facts right or wrong. (For that, we refer you to the latest English-language coverage of protests in Tibet, a rather stark counterpoint to the carnival atmosphere in the official media).
But when we sat down yesterday to sort through a cross-section of Chinese coverage of Tibet in the last few months, it was eye-opening to realize just how much there was. There have been 3,087 articles with the keyword “Tibet” in Chinese newspapers this month according to our database, and 817 of these have had “Tibet” in the headline.
These numbers actually pale in comparison to coverage in March and April last year, when Chinese media heaped scorn on the “Dalai clique” and the “hostile foreign forces” sowing unrest in China after large-scale riots in the region. But last month, even as the CCP was gearing up for the sensitive anniversary of the 1959 uprising, there were half as many articles with “Tibet” in the headline as there have been so far this month — with days yet to go until the 28th, which the CCP has designated “Tibetan Serf Emancipation Day”.
This spring surge in Chinese coverage of Tibet is entirely understandable given the historical significance of this month and what are clearly ongoing political sensitivities in the region.
What struck me, however, as I read through People’s Daily coverage of Tibet yesterday — my database print-out gave me a 183-page tome of coverage in this official paper alone going back to March 1 — was just how insulated and pointless China’s attempt to push its own message seems to have been so far.
There has been a great deal of coverage this year about how China plans to launch its own international media ventures with the (greatly misguided, I think) hope of upping its “share of global public opinion.” Judging from the international response to all of the CCP’s noise on Tibet, it seems they could really use the help. But if these new international outlets play the same game, offering one-sided coverage, they can probably expect the same results.
If you go back just a few weeks, China has spoken volumes about Tibet, the “true situation” in Tibet, the CCP’s cultural contributions to Tibet (gainsaying the “Dalai cliques” supposed slander about the “destruction of Tibetan culture”). It has published supposed personal accounts that testify to progress wrought by the CCP in Tibet. And of course it has peddled the usual propaganda tropes: “Only in the embrace of the socialist national family, upholding the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, cleaving to the socialist system . . . has Tibetan society been able to achieve continued development and the Tibetan people enjoy a prosperous today and an even brighter tomorrow!” (That’s from Sunday’s People’s Daily).
But nothing speaks better to the seeming pointlessness of this public relations effort than the reception given to a flesh-and-blood delegation to the U.S. and Canada recently, which included NPC delegate and “Living Buddha” Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak.
People’s Daily covered the delegation again yesterday, with an article on page 3 that quoted Tenzinchodrak as saying:
“Right now many people in the West have misconceptions about Tibet and basically fail to understand Tibet. I and the other four members of the delegation are all Tibetans, born and raised, and we all come from the grassroots. We are officials, doctors, village cadres, and we understand Tibet and represent the Tibetan people. We have made this journey with the hope of connecting with them face-to-face and having a discussion. I am confident this will help them better understand Tibet.”
Tenzinchodrak was in Toronto, where he hosted a “forum” on Tibet and later, said People’s Daily, gave “exclusive interviews to several major Canadian broadcasters.”
Strangely, though, this official delegation, “Living Buddha” notwithstanding, seems to have gotten no coverage where it counts — zero, zip, ling (零).
The delegation traveled thousands of miles, straight into the milling media hives of North America (Washington, New York and Toronto), with all the propaganda power and determination China’s government could muster. They endured jetlag and bad airline food. And for what?
That’s right. Resounding silence.
A search of the last week for “Tenzinchodrak” in Google News brings up only one small piece from Canada’s National Post , which maintains a sceptical tone about the China delegation and focusses mostly on an October 2007 meeting between the Dalai Lama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The article’s headline refers to Tenzinchodrak as “Beijing’s ‘living Buddha’.”
The rest of the news coverage stays entirely within the family:
* Xinhua News Agency, in English (also in French)
* China Daily
* Radio China International (also in Polish)
The delegation did manage to earn this story from Epoch Times, but it hardly makes the scoreboard — it is about how certain journalists were allegedly ejected from the Toronto forum by Chinese consulate representatives.
Was it necessary for the delegation to travel so far to get such “positive propaganda”?
The delegation fares no better in a Lexis-Nexis database search for coverage over the last week in major U.S. and international media (including broadcast transcripts).
The articles on the roster are basically: Xinhua, BBC Monitoring Service regurgitation of Xinhua (identified as Xinhua), Xinhua, and China Daily.
Further down there is a brief article from Voice of America, which tags onto Tenzinchodrak’s comments an unflattering “meanwhile” about the ongoing “security clampdown in Tibet”:
A Chinese official has downplayed expectations for further talks between Beijing and the Dalai Lama’s envoys on Tibet. Meanwhile, China has launched a security clampdown in Tibet and neighboring regions to prevent protests marking the 50th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Tibetan rights groups have reported small protests in Tibet and nearby areas in recent days . . .
The last bit of coverage is an item that appeared in the White House Bulletin on March 17. As it reports the delegation’s activities in the U.S. capital, the item sums up very well both the significance of China’s aggressive public relations campaign on Tibet and its enormous challenges:
A delegation of five Tibetan deputies in China’s National People’s Congress said Tuesday morning that economic and social conditions in the troubled region — wracked by political violence last year — are improving across the board.
The group spoke at the Chinese Embassy, and the event was probably more remarkable for what it represented than for what was said. By bringing the deputies to speak in Washington, the Chinese government is showing a far greater willingness to be active in Washington public relations efforts on a deeply sensitive internal issue.
This engagement may for China mark the beginning of a long, arduous and productive lesson in how to build real international credibility. First, of course, they will need to learn from their mistakes.
[Posted by David Bandurski, March 24, 2009, 12:26pm HK]
FURTHER READING:
“Chinese in UK mark reforms in Tibet,” China Daily, March 23, 2009
“West ‘lacks information about Tibet’,” China Daily, March 23, 2009
An extremely interesting thing is that few people outside of China could discuss this issue in Chinese language when we talk about in English.
Logically and ethically, that China is a stupid and full of nationalism cannot justify that the Dalai Lama and his government’S lies and some westerers’ ignorance.
That is all.
ah China is trying to shout its line on Tibet now, in … Malawi
12 pages of advertorial texts !
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/04/john-duffell-chinas-latest-pr-campaign-in-malawi/
John: Seems to me that culture is stronger than politics. It, for example, survives political movements. I think China is an example: as China drops the failed attempt at being a communist country its ancient culture is quickly reasserting itself. Not that it ever really went away, as I suppose can be seen from how the idea of communism played out in China.
People often say that the CPC is just waiting for H.H. the Dalai Lama to die. I doubt his passing will give the CPC control of Tibetans. Tibetans are proud and independent people. They have historically been almost as ready to fight Lhasa as Beijing. That the vast majority (99%) of Tibetans at this time support the Dalai Lama is largely due to their mistreatment at the hands of Chinese troops and officials. If Beijing didn’t treat Tibetans so badly the Dalai Lama might be thought of by them as just one religious leader among many. Instead he is the object of adoration. Ironically, it is largely the CPC which has made the Dalai Lama as powerful as he is. Of course, this Dalai Lama is a saint, so even if the CPC didn’t work so hard to make him look good in comparison he would still look good.
The difference in the character of Chinese and Tibetans became vividly apparent last time I was there. It is just not a theory. The differences are palpable once you see them. This is my main point. What works so well for the Chinese population of the PRC just doesn’t play out the same way among Tibetans. No point blaming the Dalai Lama, it goes much deeper than that.
Getting back to the subject of CPC propaganda re Tibet: it has been the butt of jokes and insults by everyone I’ve known that is familiar with it. CPC propaganda about Tibet is like a parody of propaganda about Tibet. It’s like the guys writing it are trying to tell the world they don’t really believe it. “Ha. Ha. We’re just kidding.” I suggest they go study PR or marketing in the U.S. or Europe if they want to do a good job. I suppose it is a measure of how successful the CPC is at keeping the population of PRC in the dark that it goes over at all there.
On another level, the CPC propaganda re Tibet has been profoundly successful. The CPC has presented environmental protection and poverty reduction as justifications for forced resettlement of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans. Westerners are big on the environment and poverty reduction, and will fall into a dumb silence when told that the resettlements are necessary to protect the environment or to pull Tibetans from poverty. Similar things can be said about the so called economic development of Tibetan areas, which is really a resource grab, and I suspect is mainly intended to fill officials’ overseas bank accounts. If there was an Academy Award for Best Propaganda Campaign these would have to be on the short list.
One more thing: I do not deny that the Dalai Lama could play an important role in dealing with the Tibet issue. Based on my reading, I suppose the Dalai Lama is hard to give any comprise if Wang Lixiong”s analyzing is right.
The point is the Dalai Lama and his government have strong secular goal and try to realize it in the name of religion. The Chinese government is a secular government and no doubt it would not tolerate the Dalai Lama’S SECULAR goal. Even if China would have established a western democratical system, the Dalai Lama”s secular goal was still a HUGE challenge toward the legitimacy of the Chinese government. The Dalai Lama and his government should be solely reposible to seperate their secular goal and religious mission.
Unfortunately, few people gave insigt in it and keep shouting at Chinese people.
Who is spreading Tibetan language and its script since 1950s? It is not the so called Tibet government in exile. On the contrary, it is done by the Chinese government. It is extremely ironical topic as the government is accused of culture genocide…The modern secular education system is established after the Dalai Lama fled to India and most ordinary Tibetans could receive the secular education in Tibetan language. Yet, it is not perfect and need to improve, for example, most courses taught in college level are mainly conducted in Chinese language. But we should analyze it from pratical perspercitve as staffs qualified to use Tibetan language to teach students are inadequate.
In other words, it does not mean the Chinese is doing culture genocide in Tibet as the Dalai Lama and Tibet in exile said to the whole world. Before 1980 China was still a poor country and could not let Tibet become a very modern society. Even today, only Beijing, Shanghai and other a few modern cities could enjoy modern education paralling with the modern world. I want to know: what is the effect of accuation of culture genocide? Why do you mislead the whole world? Do you really do any productive work for those Tibetans living in the TAR and other parts of China?
When Tibetans become rich, at least they tend to travel in China proper (I have a reservation on this term CHINA PROPER). My tibetan friends bought their second or third houses in Chengdu close to the TAR.
I have no intension to offend any real Titetan. What I stress is productive work rather than empty slogan. Thank you for your understanding.
One Chinese,
Thanks for your response. No offence but again I find a lot of Chinese just don’t understand Tibetan culture, history, psyche. Without it it’s hard to grasp the root cause or the grievances of the Tibetans. I don’t expect them to know that quickly since they just woke up to Tibet just last March after the ‘riot’ from the March 14th incident in Lhasa which was made into like the US New York 9/11 incident in China by the PRC CCP media and outside Chinese language media. Of course the subsequent Olympic Torch relay just snow-balled. So study more and if you can talk to real Tibetans outside and go to Tibet to gain the Tibetans trust. Then they will open up slowly but again with heavy repression and fear, they may not share all their feelings.
Amongst the Chinese, I said Wang Lixiong has the best grasp of the Tibetan issue. As he recently said that there is Dalai Lama in the heart of every Tibetan. The CCP leadership knows but its hidden from the mass and will continue paint a rosy, happy Chinese Tibetans. Wang Lixiong’s old best-seller ‘Sky Burial’ written a couple of decades ago is quite han chauvinistic but his recent writings in the last 5-6 years are very good.
I am not going to respond to each point but will respond to a couple trivial points you have: 1) I know and met Weoser in Beijing. She is from Kham region and speaks her dialect fluently but not Lhasa dialect. So if Cantonese speaker doesn’t speak Mandarin that well, I wouldn’t say, a person can’t speak Chinese.
This whole ‘greater Tibet’ ‘one quarter China’ is just moot point as I firmly believe CCP leaders under Hu Jintao will not make any concession and if Tibetans just ask for the autonomy of current TAR boundary or even a small district in Lhasa, they will not let HH Dalai Lama in nor give Tibetans any autonomy. Like I said CCP leaders know how powerful HHDL is to the Tibetans and they think that allowing him to China or Tibet is going to create stronger identity to the Tibetans but they don’t realize that flip side that you have one person who Tibetans will listen and who want to compromise and truly believe in middle-way to stay within PRC but given geniune autonomy. PRC CCP leaders know. So why should the Tibetans give in more concession after concession when the other side clearly has no interest and think that they can win this. If they were successful with their policies in the last 60 years of all different methods such as: repression, economic development etc but have failed and still Tibetans are as determined as ever to express their feelings. So why not try working with one invididual HHDL and give him the task of convincing the Tibetans to be part of PRC. I strongly believe only he can do it considering how much he means to the Tibetans. BTW, this Collins report which I never heard of the author and report is absolutely BS. As I have said I have travelled all over Tibet and more outside TAR, Tibetan identity is stronger and don’t see hardly any inter-marriage with non-Tibetans. There is also very few Tibetans living outside their indegenious region. I’d guess less than 1000 in Beijing, then 10,000 in Chengdu and perhaps 5000 scattered in the rest of PRC. Tibetans don’t have desire to settle in China proper.
Tibetan culture has absolutely no influence from the great sage Confucius which guides a lot of the east Asians mostly Chinese and also Koreans, Vietamese, and including Japanese. So really Tibetan culture and language has less influence from Chinese than Chinese to Koreans, Japanese, Vietanamese. So there is very little of cultural, inter-marriage and also lack of understanding from the majority Hans.
However I should also mention that there are many Chinese (mostly well-off, educated including some party officials) who are showing great interest and respect this deep and rich Tibetan spirituality including converting to Tibetan buddhists but it’s still small number.
The current situation benefits few elites officials and some well-connected businesses in Tibet and some in China such as United Front officials who have benefitted enormous financial but not for China nor the taxpayers with billions of Renminbi wasted on Tibet with little return and tarnish their reputation in the world.
For a true expert opinion, I would recommend read Professor Tsering Shakya of University of BC. Robbie Barnett, Columbia Universtiy is good as well as they speak Tibetan.
I don’t mean to be so direct but sometimes truth is painful to hear but I also strongly believe that Tibet can benefit more to be part of the stronger PRC as envisioned by HH Dalai Lam middle-way proposal. I just don’t see this happening under CCP rule and especially in a closed society where media is controlled, there is no open discussion on topics as Tibet, lot of the information is state secret, when the CCP progaganda geniuses are so intent educating their views to their citizens and suprisingly the citizens seem so gullible in digesting all of the spoon-fed information from the CCP on Tibet. So I am not surprised at the utter lack of understanding from the majority Chinese on Tibetan grievances. Like I said CCP likes it this way and surprised that the majority of the Chinese believe in and support this view on Tibet including many supposedly pro-democracy Chinese who supported the Tianneman square student protests but not on Tibet (disappointing and not sure if it’s racism that as if Tibetans don’t deserve their freedom). It’s as if we are from different planets.
However listening to the Tibetan grievances and seeing from my travlels, their determination to preserve their identity Tibet, I am hopeful that they will get their freedom but it’s going to be long time.
As the old Tibetans saying goes, “Tibetans are doomed by hope and Chinese are doomed by suspicion”. This is so true with lack of trust and understanding of the situation on ground.
I am sure I will get tons of ultra-nationalists response but won’t have time to respond to all.
One Chinese:
Ofcourse, “Woeser herself is not fluent in Tibetan Language”, and thanks for proving this here.
Due to China’s Occupation of Tibet, many of the New Generation Tibetan, both inside and outside of Tibet have been deprived of an education in their own Language: Tibetan. And this is ene of China’s key attempt to abolish the Tibetan Identity. But, despite such an effort, the Chinese government has failed to change the minds of the young Tibetans, The New Generation Tibetans both in Tibet and in exile have proved the Tibetan within them!
Sorry, please me correct one mistake: Woser herself is not fluent in Tibetan Language.
Unfortunately, Mr. Wang Lixiong also pointed that most of senior officials and advisors are from aristocratic class rooted in regions outside of the Tibet autonomous region where the 14th Dalai Lama had resided. He pointed out that it is likely the Dalai Lama HAVE TO support a goal of establishing a GREAT Tibet otherwise he cannot gain support from his followers. Ironically, few members of former aristocratic class residing in the TAR followed the Dalai Lama’ action.
According to the Tibet history, since a few generations of the Dalai Lamas were killed by their Tibetan colleagues(no Tibetan study experts deny this), we must realize that even if the 14th Dalai Lama would have agreed to return as a buddhist, his followers would not agree, unless they could achieve their goal. It surely can explain something.
An australian scholar Collins quoted a research report conducted by a Hongkong group, pionting in Tibetan areas there are over 70% are willing to marry with Han Chinese. This research was done several years ago. Furthermore, if you visit big cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu etc., you will see more and more Tibetan migrant and enjoy their lives there. I do not understand why politicians alway think they reprent their people? And they provoke people”s negative feeling toward their Han friends, even lead their people devote their lives? Is this buddhism?
By the way, Woser herself is not influent in Tibetan language (I suppose the new generations of Tibetans outside of China cannot either, they think in English way. Ironically, it is not culture genocide.). To express what he or she believe in is one thing, yet to do productive work is another thing.
Excellent analysis David as I saw this link from a Daily Telegraph link.
Around mid March last month, I was also doing a quick research on the Tibet coverage in the media. I Googled and clicked ‘News’ then typed ‘Tibet’ and then ‘Dalai Lama’ separately, I was amazed at the amount of coverage. There were 6100 articles under one heading and then 1500 in another heading within a week. Iraq and Afghanistan had 1600; Middle-east 2000, Obama 2600; Wen Jiabao 1900; Hu Jintao 4200 (mostly in reference to Tibet articles). Quite remarkable considering PRC is more powerful than ever before and do not hesitate to use its power to muzzle the Tibet issue.
As a Tibetan who had lived in Tibet and continues to visit Tibet frequently from the comfort and freedom of a foreign passport, I managed to stay in touch with both the Tibetans in Tibet and in diasparo.
The Tibetan issue is finally being addressed seriously and widely and will not go away despite what PRC wishes. So the struggle continues as the will and spirit is strong amongst the Tibetans especially and more importantly inside Tibet amongst the younger generation.
Attn: PRC CCP apologists
I am not sure why the Chineses diaspora population as in these blogs who has probably never experienced a life under the CCP nor suffered during the cultural revolution seem so offended when CCP policies on Tibet and its treatment of the Tibetans are questioned or criticized. Tibetans are fighting for their freedom through steadfastly non-violent means despite huge repression and suffering on the people. Yet few are speaking up as in the last March Uprsing where CCTV showed only the violence in Lhasa after 4 days of peaceful protests that were brutally crackdown but there were also protests at 100 other places. So did you know and why are Tibetans on the ground feel so unhappy and also desperate if they treated so well and happy.
If you believe PRC CCP propaganda why is the Chinese government so afraid to open up Tibet for international media and scrutiny. Why does it have to lock-up Tibet (quarter of Prc) and deploy thousands of troops to intimidate and silence the Tibetans. PRC-CCP has done a super job to fool the Chinese population using nationalism that ‘outsiders anti-China forces using Dalai clique to take Tibet away from China and any patriot Chinese must defend the motherland’. Let’s hope this issue doesn’t turn into violence then it’s lose to lose for both people.
If you truly want to understand the Tibetan issue and their grievances, you can read Tibetan writer in Beijing Woeser and her blog http://middle-way.net and her famous Chinese writer husband Wang Lixiong.
Wang Lixiong is one of the few Chinese intellectuals whom I have great respect and understand the Tibetan psyche and the issue having lived in Tibet for many years and now married to a famous Tibetan activists Woeser.
Constant fear continues to dominate the Tibetan people in Tibet and they will not share their true feelings to Han Chinese and with heavy state media propaganda, the Chinese people absolutely do not understand the true feelings of the Tibetan people. That’s what suits the CCP rulers just fine to stroke the Chinese nationalism and han chauvinism against the Tibetan people. Read Dalai Lama’s 10th of March speech and press conference to undertsand the issue a little better. http://www.dalailama.com/page.128.htm (sorry blocked for readers in China)
Dalai Lama plays a unique and special relationship with the Tibetan people for hundreds of years that perhaps only a very few Chinese like Wang Lixiong understand.
Finally I agreed with Wang Lixiong that without the help of the Dalai Lama, the Chinese government will not be able to win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people to stay within PRC willingly and therefore will not be able to solve the Tibet issue. It’s opportune time for the PRC leaders to negotiate seriously and sincerely to solve the Tibet issue with the Dalai Lama who represents the Tibetan people.
By the way, obviously, when China shouts its line on Tibet, someone are surely listening. But they attained different conclusion.
If people sit down and take a look at Chinese reality, they will get a conclusion that Chinese governments since its very beginning never strike any religion if it does not threaten its governance and unity, which indicates China has the tradition of accomodating multi-religions and explains the reason that there is no war in the name of religion in Chinese over 5000 years history.
If my understanding is not wrong, the Chinese government has repeatedly said that the Dalai Lama could return as a Buddhist if he could gave up his goal of independance or establishment of a GREATER Tibet. The fact is if a Tibet lama does not involve in the Dalai lama’s political activity (of course, most westerners treat his behaviors as religious and peaceful actions), the lama will not encounter any trouble. This can explictly explain that the Dalai Lama is a politician rather than a religious leader. Yet, most western medias accused of the Chinese government stubborn and not giving any compromise. I am estremely curious that why a religious leader have so strong interest in a secular goal, based on my understanding of Buddhism?
Let me add more: the current Dalai Lama claims that the 11th Panchan Lama is fake. Yet he forgot that he also once had refused to accept the previous Panchan Lama and had appointed his own Panchan Lama. In 1950s he changed his policy and the Panchan Lama appointed by the Dalai Lama reportedly went to India. It looks that the His Holiness Dalai Lama also could change his religious law when he needs.
One more thing is there was a massacre of ethnic Chinese in Indonesia in 1999. It seems that the whole civilised world claimed by many western government, journalists and human rights fighters have no interests in this horrible issue.
I hope those westerners could master Chinese language and script. Do not forget, since 221 BC it has been continously recording its history and civiliaztion with a unitary scipt. The Daolism with 1700 years old claims that the best governace is no government. This idea is treasured by westerners as their own great and one of most modern democratical theories. I use it to remind you that some people should ask yourself how much you understand Chinese civilization.
It is an interesting theory that culture determines politics. Although I don’t major in social sciences, I believe that it is true from the anthropologic point of view. I also believe that politics may also have feedback effect. Reforming political systems to conform the standard of democracy may have adverse effect on some cultures. I also believe that cultural diversity is as important as biodiversity that also needs to be preserved.
Coming back to the Tibetan issue, most of the problems China has and will continue to have in Tibet are not so much related to the domestic polices (of course important and can be improved), rather is related to external factors. The first factor is the Dalai Lama. As long as he is alive, he will continue to travel the world, preaching peace and compassion, and playing up the good guy image while some of his followers and supporters will instigate instances, promote independence, and be wiling to be the bad guy. Second, as China rises politically and economically, people see the new “United States” in China. They think the Han People suppress the Tibetans. It has thus become some sort of fashion trend for some people in the West, who range from royal family members, politicians, actors to students, to support the Tibetan movement, although few of them know what exactly they want. As long as China does not sponsor another Olympics, it won’t get out of hand.
The Dalai Lama can play a role in solving the Tibetan problem. But I think that he is too old to learn any new tricks. All he needs to do is to put on hold his autonomy demand. It is obvious that won’t work because China will say that we have Tibetans in charge, and why we need the exiles to come back to take the power. He needs first to concentrate his effort in returning the exiles to China, and make any suggestions. That is my opinion about Tibet. Feel free to debate.
Politics is one lens through which the world can be seen, but there are others. I am also interested in what ultimately distinguishes cultures, and I suppose that what can distinguish people (who are of course essentially the same) of one culture from those of another is how they choose to interpret the world, and the decisions they make as a result. This is deeper than language, history, environment, education, or biology, though these all come into it. You know you are dealing with people from distinct cultures when, presented with the same facts, they sincerely interpret these facts differently. Tibetans and Chinese are a good example. People have written books on how people from these two cultures see things differently (for example see “History as Propaganda” by John Powers). My own experience has confirmed this many times. Of course, one’s culture (in this sense) affects one’s political views and actions, so politics can be usefully viewed as culturally determined. Useful in the sense that it can reveal solutions to real political problems. For example, I can say with a high degree of certainty that unless the PRC’s government takes a different approach to dealing with its Tibetan population it will continue to have problems in the region, and the source of these problems are cultural in the sense that most Tibetans see the world quite differently than the Chinese who make up the majority of government officials. If the government wants to get Tibetans on their side, officials are going to have to listen to Tibetans and act according to Tibetans’ wishes, i.e. the government has to serve the people. Strictly as an administrative technique, to achieve this goal, you need to to have a free press, active NGOs, open debate, good accounting practices, independent judiciary, and elected officials.
Chowenlie: thank you for your reasonable comment. Finally, you have come to consensus. The consensus is that all your concerns and problems are boiled down to the political system, which can be debated, but are beyond this forum.
But I do want to mention the Tibet issue. People have misunderstandings, which attribute all the problems to the political system. What other people are saying is to look beyond this. Is Tibet going to fair better under a system similar to the Western one? What I say is no. Under the Western system, people will inevitably question why they can have unlimited number of children while we have one, why the central government pumps some much money into the temples and monasteries while some monks make much trouble. The double standard shows towards China on the Tibet issue since the Western countries never question, for example, the way how the Kurds are treated in Turkey. I don’t know which country has more preferable policy for minorities than China. Nether do I know what human rights they are talking about. The Tibetan population has doubled over time. Their GDP is 12%/year. Their living standard has increased significantly. They can openly practice their religion. Their language has been computerized by Han Chinese. Their cultural heritage has been written in books, songs and plays. Bilingual is practiced in Tibetan areas. I don’t what to sound like propaganda, but all these are true based on my understanding from both Chinese and Western media. You often see report saying massive Chinese migration to Tibet. I don’t what this is based on. Based on my calculations from public data, there are probably 100K Han Chinese in Tibet, less than 5% of the population (95% Tibetans). This number is only about one tenth of the Chinese in California, about 1 million. They can move into a foreign county, why can they move within their own country?
When the Western media talk about Chinese minorities, they always sound like these people are superior over Chinese (for example, when they talk the Uyghurs, they keep mention they look like Europeans), and they are some kind of rarity that needs to be preserved. That is offensive to the Chinese people. There are a lot of free Tibet organizations. They say they want freedom for Tibetans. I don’t know what they mean. But, this is my understanding: they want to get rid of Han people. They want Tibet ruled by Tibetans. If you want to further analyze, it is a racial thing. In today’s world, that is not right thing. It’s like that African Americans want their own government. The Dalai Lama’s friend Richard Gere mentioned that since America has Obama as the president, he wishes someday China would have a Tibetan president. Since race is becoming more and more irrelevant, that is entirely plausible and is not offensive to Chinese people as long as he maintains the unity of the country. That is my opinion of Tibet. Please feel free to debate.
John, thank you for taking the trouble to reply to me. The first rule, I believe, is that if something is true then it is true. So if you see the US or Britain, or the CPC commit some crime you have every right to say so. I have every right to say so. Anybody does. Personally, I welcome criticism of my own country, which tends to be pretty smug and too often hypocritical, by people from other countries. Keeps my government on its toes.
Logic, valid reasoning, is something that we all need to pay attention to. The nonsense that the CPC puts out is mirrored by the nonsense of other countries’ leaders. The difference is that in most other countries a relatively untrammeled press, independent justice system, an education system which encourages skepticism and debate, NGO’s that shout out alternative views, and opposition political parties work to keep this nonsense in check. The debate engaged in on this blog is the type of activity that eventually brings out the truth, though we fail many times before we get it right.
Personally my concern with is with the CPC, which, as far as I can see, is running China more for its own enrichment rather than serving the people. Many politicians in Western governments would do the same thing if they could get away with it.
One annoying fallacy that keeps showing up is: if the US (or Britain) once committed some crime then it is Ok for the PRC to now commit the same crime.
It’s wrong to justify crimes based on whether somebody else has done the same crimes or not. However, if you have committed some crimes and turn around, lecturing others, there is nothing wrong for these people to remind that you have committed the same crimes. I am sure that you know the saying: “if you live a glass house, don’t throw stones at others”. Basically, they are telling you to back off, and don’t use the double standards, which the Westerners tend to do toward China. Let me give you an example of double standard, when it comes to personal relationships in the Western society, the common etiquette is don’t judge others. However, when it comes to international relationships, the Western countries constantly judge others. Let me give another example, it comes to domestic problems, it takes years and years to solve. However, when it comes to international problems, these countries expect other to solve right away by passing resolution one after another. That is how a lot of wars have started. I hope that you see my point.
I just cannot resist providing a rebuttal to chowenlie. It is interesting that you keep using yak instead of ship. I don’t know much about the resettle plan you are talking about. If you can make scientific and ecological assessment of that plan, it is good for you. But, I hope that you are not doing it for some political reasons.
bachelorette, you told it like it is. Well done. Generally, there is no point trying to reason with Chinese netizens. Unlike in Europe, India, Tibet, and the Middle East, logic has never been a subject of study in China (yeah, there were the Mohists but they never amounted to much). One annoying fallacy that keeps showing up is: if the US (or Britain) once committed some crime then it is Ok for the PRC to now commit the same crime. Yawn! We’d have had the backs of our heads slapped if we said anything so stupid after grade six.
But generally the strategy is to repeatedly point at a yak and call it a wolf (and that’s the wolf talking!). The ecological resettlement of Tibetans in Qinghai is one example. Tibetans lived for thousands of years on the Tibetan Plateau without degrading the environment. A few years back the PRC realized that it was having water problems. While initially some the initiatives were worthwhile, these quickly morphed into blaming overgrazing by Tibetan herds for the Yellow River drying up and the Yangtze flooding! Within this propaganda environment, over the last few years over 60,000 Tibetans have been forcibly resettled from the new Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve in Qinghai. The irony of the propaganda line was really driven home for me over the past few weeks scanning Qinghai in Google Earth. While Chinese dams, oil wells, mines, and other sources of pollution were easy to find, the worse Tibetan intervention in the environment was to place prayer flags over a river. This exactly coincides with my own first hand observations. Having removed Tibetans from their ancestral homelands, the PRC is replacing them with domestic and foreign oil, mining, and hydroelectric companies and their imported employees with their dirty industrial towns. What was once a clean landscape will be made filthy beyond repair. Truly a case of a wolf calling a yak a wolf.
It is perfectly normal for people to migrate in their own country for better oppurtunities.
It is also the row of the government to attract people to poorer areas to allow economic growth. The government wouldn’t be doing its job if it does not.
I saw plenty of Tibetans and muslims from Xinjiang province working in Shanghai last time I visited; why can’t the reverse be allowed?
Zyzyx says: ‘Tibet, like the rest of China, is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural’.
Yes multicultural, especially after the invasion of Han Chinese. Of do you mean to be cynical?
-> Can you imagine living in a country in Europe and never have seen an image of say the Pope on tv or in newspaper?
You exaggerate much the influence of Dalai lama over Asian religious scene.
-> Why is it a big deal with a girl not recognizing the Dalai Lama?
Because to some people’s mind, Dalai is their center so it must at least be on everyone’s radar. It is to some extent hurtful to see the truth – that their icon is really a nobody in the eyes of many.
-> Tibet is for Tibetans. Simple as that!
Define terms Tibetans or Tibet please…there is nothing “simple” about that
Chinaa: Why is it a big deal with a girl not recognizing the Dalai Lama? People in China recognize him because he fled China as an armed rebel, not because he is a Pope like figure. The girl does not recognize him, indicating China’s “propaganda” campaign is not as serious as people think. A good thing for you, right?
Tenzin Wangmo: 1) it looks like that you want independence, at least as the ultimate goal. Apparently, people like you use the Dalai Lama’s autonomy as the first step. You see, this is a perfect example of circumstances that he does not have to say himself. That is what the Chinese government is worried and talking about. Therefore, they will not give you that. 2) “Tibet is for Tibetans” is like America for African Americans. African Americans can integrate with the rest of America, why can Tibetans not integrate with China? Your mind still dwells in the past. You cannot practice racism today, no mater what race that is. If you are in America, please learn some American values: be tolerant and try to get along with other races. Forget your pure Tibetan country dream.
Tenzin Wangmo is forgetting something in the equation. The number of Chinese getting educated in het West is far greater. The number of Chinese in the West supporting China is far greater. The silent majority in the West is not supporting “Free Tibet”. China is improving on a fast scale, both economically, socially, etc. Time is not on the side of the Tibetan exile “Free Tibet” group. The time has come that Tibetans in China have a better life than those in India. He says “Tibet for Tibetans”. What a scary rightwing thought is that. Same as saying “Germany for Germans only”, and everyone growing up in the West knows that such views are strongly rejected. Tibet, like the rest of China, is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. Advocating ethnic cleaning or other ethnic nationalism should be condemned.
@wei who wrote:
So no one can address Dalai lama as the old monk these days? Must one always screams with ecstasy like teenage girls watching the beetles in the 60s?
Does he also walk on water these days?
—
OK one more try: the young woman did not recognize the dalai lama because she nver SAW him on tv or in newspapers.
Can you imagine living in a country in Europe and never have seen an image of say the Pope on tv or in newspaper?
I agree with Bachelorette: it is , well, almost, an Orwellian situation as far as media concerns.
On the contrary the Indian government benefits from the Tibetans in India and the Tibetan community there are working on developments and providing for all the Tibetans escaping from China. Also, the Tibetan movement is not carried only by the Tibetans in India, Tibetans in the US, Europe, Canada regions are getting educated and the YOUTH of Tibet, the new generation is taking control as you can see. I am a perfect example of this. Tibetans will be FREE!
There is one more thing that I want to say before I sign off. In a few years, while the Tibetans in the Dharamsala, India, hill station still live a miserable life, Tibetans in China will live a prosperous and modern life. At that time, the ordinary exiled Tibetans will be eager to desert their government, and to go back to China. There will be no Tibetan movement (this is my prediction).
You don;t have to be a Tibetan in exile.. India, US or anywhere to understand. I am not telling you how to think, certainly not. I’m simply suggesting that you look at Tibetan History from the Tibetan people’s eyes and listen to us so that you can be more open minded towards what we are asking for. You dialogue is important, please do not misunderstand me. I have published articles saying it is Tibetan Freedom i want. Meaning, freedom to be Tibetan in Tibet and carry our cultural, religious, traditional values so that we are identified as Tibetans and can think for Tibet, work for Tibet and develop Tibet on our own, not by China’s rules. Every opinion is important, but just because freedom of speech exists does not mean you should abuse it by carelessly writing all your thoughts without research. Informative is that my dear. And John, i never stated i was for Autonomy or Freedom, i think this discussion is far better when i don’t exactly go into the two narrow political views you all are familiar with. Tibet is for Tibetans. Simple as that!
1) Actually, he will be quite safe. CCP is, like Dalai lama, not stupid.
2) What does my discription of FLG has anything to do with what Tibetans believe? Do you really know what they actually do and why they are despised by lots of ordinary Chinese?
3) thats more lols. I don’t think anyone thinks he is stupid.
4) We shall see in a few years. If people choose the way of the Palestinians, all I can say is that Tibetans will be far worse off than the Chinese.
Do you think there will be UN peace keeping force in Tibet if there is bloodshed that Chinese armies won’t hit? Keep dreaming.
5) As I said before, if I am a Tibetan(esp if I am a Tibetan in India), I might think differently; but alas I am not. As for informative dialogue, this is informative, as is with sites like Phayul, global voices, etc…but our dialogue is not so important now is it? We are just the peanut gallery
Tenzin Wangmo,
If Dalai Lama goes back to China, I cannot guarantee anything, but I don’t think that he will be killed. If everything is safe, why do you need a hero? If he cannot be a hero, how can he be a leader?
Who is the dictator you are talking about? President Hu Jintao? Does he look like a dictator?
When you say “their country is more important than another, apparently you are thinking of China and Tibet are two different countries. Do you still want your autonomy? Your name is linking to place indicating who you are. But Chinese people still consider you their brother or sister.
By the way, we got our news from the Western media, OK?
You did a wonderful job in changing the subject matter into something else.
1- No guarantee on his safety in Tibet correct? If not please respond correctly.
2- “demigod” you speak of, is explained in a ignorant way from an ignorant outside perspective of someone who has no knowledge of the “religion” and “culture” that Tibet dealt with. We are talking policies and human rights, not what “norms” were believed to be acceptable back in the day. I can go on for hours detailing different ludicrous beliefs carried by Tibetans, Chinese, American, Africans etc. Does not make it true, what is believed culturally by a few cannot be accepted by all. End this for now
3. Thank you for clearing out the fact that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not stupid, i hope you spread the word
4. There are many Tibetan organizations that want Freedom “Rangzen” as we say it in Tibetan, which His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not associated it. If it was not for the Dalai Lama and his non-violent teachings, one can only imagine how the Tibetan people’s struggle over Tibet could be. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a devoted practitioner peace and compassion.
5. CNN is good, try listening to a Tibetan on the inside scoop of what WE Tibetans believe, then you might be able to carry on a informative dialogue.
-> The whole purpose of him fleeing China in 1959 was due to the pressure from the Tibetan people fearing for his safety.
You speak of truth, here is a dose of it with no sugar coating. In 1959, he did what most leaders of people who start wars that they can not finish do, he ran away.
-> …FLG…
More truth with no sugar coating? They are lead by a “demigod” who preys on the weak and the infirm with modern snake oil treatments for terminally ill.
-> Why do you think he does not publicly come out and declare independence if he really is thinking only for the Tibetans and himself?
That be political suicide and best way to endanger foreign diplomatic support. While I am certainly not his fan, stupid the old monk is not.
No need to speculate where I get my info from…I grew up with CNN
John, If the Dalai Lama goes back to China, what guarantee do you have that he will be safe there? The whole purpose of him fleeing China in 1959 was due to the pressure from the Tibetan people fearing for his safety. His exiled government is one of the main reasons that we are here still talking about Tibet. Granted we might not need any more countries in your view, but in my view, we don’t need any more dictators believing that somehow their country is more important than another. Human Rights in China does not seem to exist and you could view many reports from the UN and Human Rights Watch groups to support this statement. It is not just Tibetan, its even present within the Chinese people, especially the Falung Gong. Why would a country with so much power block YouTube because of one video supporting “no human rights in China” if it was not true? I understand that people have the right to determine their own opinions and not listen to the media all the time but, how accurate is your views on China and Tibet? Where do you get your information from? This might be a good place to start searching for the TRUTH behind your views, before you preach to others. Lastly, The Dalai Lama seek autonomy because it is the most peaceful way to resolve this Tibet-China issue according to him, he is a Buddhist monk and supports non-violence. He is thinking in terms of Universal peace as a leader. Why do you think he does not publicly come out and declare independence if he really is thinking only for the Tibetans and himself?
It looks like China critiques on this board are giving up. I think that this is because the truth is not on their side. Chinaa: you are disappointed because you have made some assumptions. Your assumptions are: Chinese policies in Tibet are all against human rights and anyone that supports these policies is also against human rights. That is the same argument the Dalai Lama and his Western supporters have made. You all can not make scientific and objective assessment of theses policies.
Don’t get me wrong. We are all for human rights, which are universal values of human race. China’s struggle with the Dalai Lama is not about human rights, religions or ethnicity. This struggle is about the unity of the Chinese nation. Sounds like a propaganda? No, I truly believe in this. Let’s say that we give him his so-called autonomy. What about other minorities? We give them all? Then, what’s the next step. He declares independence? There are enough countries in the world. Do we need more? Also, in today’s world, why do you give somebody something for nothing other than trouble? Who is that stupid?
If the Dalai Lama was truly for human rights, he could do differently. He had chance to go back to China to continue his struggle. He could be another Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela, which could win aspirations. But, he never showed any interest. Instead, he set up the so-called exiled government, and colluded with his foreign sponsors in sabotage activities against China. I don’t think that he could go anywhere.
Wei,
Obviously you don’t understand Orwell’s books.
Maybe you should read them again?
As for your interpretation of the slogans, you need more practice in “doublethink”
I give up this “debate”, it turns useless…
So no one can address Dalai lama as the old monk these days? Must one always screams with ecstasy like teenage girls watching the beetles in the 60s?
Does he also walk on water these days?
Also Chinaa, I am for democracy and human rights; but not when it is used as a guise for something else. The Western credibility on that front is wearing extremely thin these days, esp. on the issue of Tibet.
I Can’t help feeling very dissapointed that so many pro Chinese government people here take side against human rights. I give up.
just one more sample to show that the Chin. gov, propaganda efforts indeed seem to have effect:
last year after the riots in Tibet I was in China, watching an interview with the dalai lama and others on some foreign tv channel. In the room also a 28 year old Chinese woman, a university graduate. After a while she asked: what does the old monk mean to say?
She didnt know the dalai lama at all, didnt recognize him.
For me a sign that propaganda really works . …
bachelorette,
Both 1984 and Animal farm was required reading in highschool so, not so much of shock value…and…you didn’t think too deeply about your own slogans
WAR IS PEACE
A failed armed rebel reinvents himself as a leader for peace, while gives tacit approval to violent uprisings…
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
Serf lords want their old ways back in the name of freedom.
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Dalai lama champion for religious freedom? LOLs.
As I said before, pretty slogans, but they cut both ways.
—-
I’m sure I’ll feel differently if I am a Tibetan Lama, but I am not. Such is the way of this world
Let’s look at the BBC. They have 2 articles: China’s view and Tibetan View:
China’s view:
What does the Chinese government think about reports by the Western media about the recent events in Tibet?
It is unfortunate that a few Western media outlets, including some from the United States, are ignorant of the obvious truths and are basing their reports on distorted facts and unfounded claims.
(Zhang Yun, Chinese consul general for Los Angeles, Xinhua, April 2008)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7410745.stm
Tibetan view:
What does the Tibetan government-in-exile think about reports by the Western media about the recent events in Tibet?
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) thinks that the international media coverage about the recent events in Tibet is the most extensive. The media reports were, by and large fair, accurate and balanced.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7411011.stm
These comments clearly illustrate the Western bias in reporting in favor of the ‘Tibetan view’. Something is off in the reporting, and it would be nice, David, if you could explain why that is.
@John
I do not understand why you fall into this black/white categorization trap? someone who critizises the chinese government has to be anti china? what kind of logic is that? what in the world do you even mean with ‘anti-china’? anyone voicing an opinion about ‘china’ that you don’t agree with is anti-china or what?
seriously dude, i love this country. i get along with a lot of people here and going to china is definately one of the best things i have ever done. yet i do find myself disagreeing with one or the other policy of the chinese leadership (as do impressive numbers of chinese i encounter). now how is that anti-china?
i really do not get what trip you’re on…
Wei: When it comes to “good slogans” here are 3 ‘Ministry of Truth’ (see “1984″) ‘doublethink’ slogans for you to
deeply think about:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
The above looked through some of the issues of the Tibetan question can (also) be thus interpreted:
By military and armed force social “harmony” and peace will be implemented.
Autonomy and having so-called “human rights” means to return to feudal serf system.
We are implementing censorship for your own good. (i.e. We can decide what you need to know and what is the Truth)
There is a lot of the veiled anti-China rhetoric on this board. They use the Chinese Communist Party as a surrogate to attack China. The term “ethnocentrism” is racial and ridiculous. But, with Europe disintegrating into thousand pieces and politicians dog fighting (by the way, we should charge them jet carbon tax for going to summits like going to school), and America embroiled in economical crisis, a centralized system like that of China is beginning to show advantages. It can solve some difficult problems of today. People are starting to realize that.
Bachelorette: A very nice “review” of the celebrations in Lhasa. My answer to your riddle is none of A and B (none of the above), because they were all from the past. You are either a delusional non-curable chronic Western critique of China or Martin Lee.
Interesting that the so called human rights activists are also convienently forgetting who Dalai llama(and his associates) really is, and the obvious and balatant lack of religious freedom still practiced under Dalai lama’s current so called government.
As it is, if you argue that ending the serfdom is a convenient argument for the Chinese, so is human rights then now for the Tibetans in India.
It is interesting you mentioned Mog. Rep. There are yearly petitions to come back to China…which is interesting…but as it is, had the Tibetans found a strong foreign backer like MR did and split from China formally while China was weak, they probably would have succeeded; but they didn’t or the British was not as capable a master as the soviets. In any case, I have stated somewhere else but I will say it here: History has no do overs.
At that time, China’s main interest was not ending serfdom, but to secure Tibetan area as to prevent them separating from China, as happened in Mongolia. Realpolitik so to say.
That they in this process ended feudalism, is coincidence and a convenient argument for now.
Ofcourse I applaud ending of serfdom anywhere, but one must not forget this all was 50 years ago, and now it is 2009 and I have the feeling human rights for Tibetans are not very well respected.
Just basic human rights, like real freedom of religion, should be the central point here, I think. Not ‘ending serfdom’ or ‘independence’, just: human rights.
bachelorette,
It is interesting that some people in the West like to use a view of relativism on some issues and absolutism on others. It makes good slogans but the hypocrisy is pretty thick.
Of course I do believe most activists really believe they are doing something good and been sincere about it; but really, they are just pawns for cultural/political expansion of the so called “Western Values” in the grander scheme of things. Tibetan culture is the in thing right now; but really, that is just a tool for politics.
it is rather amusing to see people here go to bat for a bunch of serf lords and think they are doing a good thing.
Jim:
These are interesting comments. If you can provide further sources these would be much appreciated.
Best,
David
One particular group, the foreign fundamentalist Christians missionaries, is clearly listening to the official noise coming from the Chinese state media org. The drastic Tibetan resettlement policy, as proudly touted by the Chinese state media orgs, is allowing missionaries greater access to this displaced and concentrated Tibetan population. Between August 2008 and early mid-March 2009 there have been three stories in official daily newspapers concerning the official movement of 1+ million Tibetans from the grasslands of Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces by 2010. A new school consolidation policy that is moving forward in Hainan TAP in Qinghai – as a model for further ‘consolidation’ efforts throughout the TAPs in Qinghai – is also dramatically changing the social landscape and exacerbating tensions. Hu Jintao has been at the center of the last 20+ years of dismantling the Tibetan culture, an effort that can easily be defined as cultural genocide. In the past year efforts have shifted into an even higher gear as cultural development and preservation advocates have been systematically hamstrung, at best, or, as has been too often the case, tossed out of the country if they were foreign passport holders.
Fundamentalist Christian missionaries, on the other hand, by being such good listeners and followers of the party line, have been faring quite well with officialdom, as compared to those who do not have “soul harvesting” as their goal. Since missionary efforts are specifically aimed at the conversion of Tibetans from Buddhism to their particular brand of Christianity, they have been given freer reign and a much wider berth by the CCP. It is quite odd how these two groups stroll so happily together. But then again, maybe not. Cultural genocide comes in a variety of packages, though the results are still the same. Much of the cultural demolition work currently underway has its beginning in the churches in the Christian West, under the guise (and fundraising efforts) of “spreading the Word of God.” The Chinese government is happy to work with whoever will help to wrangle Tibetans from their “heathen” ways, and, at least for now, they are both marching along in-step. What the fundies will eventually learn is that once they have served the CCPs greater purpose, they too will become pariahs. But by then the damage will have been done. But maybe not. Many in the Tibetan communities are aware of what their new false friends are after, and quite often the relationships go sour, as well they should. But the stealing of native lands under the ideal of education and language preservation is mendacity at its highest level. This is how it has always happened under imperial rule.