La Chine ne doit pas se sentir humiliée par l’Occident

« Le golfe des malentendus entre la Chine et l’Occident par rapport au dalaï-lama et au Tibet est immense », a indiqué Stanley Crossick, président fondateur du European Policy Centre (EPC), dans une contribution à Blogactiv.eu.

« No agreement is possible on the alleged rights and wrongs of both sides, » he believes, claiming that the biggest single problem is « separating fact from fiction, whether its source is Tibetan, Chinese or Western ». 

Whatever the source, the author maintains that anything seen as a threat to China’s territorial integrity is « hypersensitive » in Beijing.

Aside from this, Crossick believes that « no progress has been made, or is likely to be made, in negotiations between Beijing and the Tibetan exiles ». While the Dalai Lama’s policy towards Beijing was « unchanged » at the bilateral talks in-between China and Tibetan exiles earlier this month, he warns that younger Tibetans at the summit had « more radical ideas ». 

However, the meeting resulted in « no effort » on the part of China to meet the demands for autonomy, Crossick states. Moreover, it remains unclear what the Dalai Lama means by calling for « meaningful autonomy » for the Tibetan people, he writes, insisting that clarification of what Beijing means by « autonomous region » is required. 

Whichever way we look at it, China sees « autonomy as the first stage to independence, » Crossick maintains. Therefore, he believes « it is impossible to imagine a compromise ». 

The founding chairman of the EPC also accuses the EU of failing to « coordinate its approach and use its collective authority » towards Beijing. He blames the European Parliament, media and protest groups for their « irresponsible behaviour », which China is yet to disassociate from EU governments. 

« It’s important to remember that all 27 member states are committed to the territorial integrity of China […] but if they decide that they all wish to meet the Dalai Lama, at least let Beijing cope with a combined voice, » Crossick pleads. 

If there is any hope of Europe and China seeing eye-to-eye in future, « it is essential that the Chinese do not see the Tibet issue as a continuation of their humiliation by the West, » Crossick concludes.