ONLY SOCIALISM can save Tibet, the Beijing-appointed governor of the restive province told China’s annual rubberstamp parliament yesterday, and the Dalai Lama needs to be more decisive if he wants to stabilise the territory.
“The main source of instability in Tibet is the Dalai Lama, and it is also he who causes trouble for Tibet’s economic development and socio-economic progress,” Padma Choling, an ethnic Tibetan who was appointed governor in January, told the National People’s Congress, referring to Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Nobel laureate, the Dalai Lama.
It was a robustly defensive comment that came almost two years after protests led by Buddhist monks against Chinese rule in March 2008 turned into violence against Han Chinese. At least 19 people died in the 2008 unrest, which sparked waves of protests across Tibetan areas.
Pro-Tibet groups overseas say more than 200 people were killed in a subsequent crackdown. “But I have to say, we are not the least bit scared . . . as all the peoples of Tibet have already clearly realised that only the Chinese Communist Party and socialism can save Tibet, and only then can Tibet develop,” Padma Choling said.
Among the highlights of the congress, in terms of political intrigue, has been the attention paid to Bo Xilai, the charismatic, mafia-busting Communist Party chief in Chongqing and former trade tsar, who is being widely feted in what could be a sign the “princelings”, ie the Maoist children of the revolution, are gaining political traction.
He is probably the Chinese figure most like a Western politician – he exudes charm and confidence, can handle the media and is ruthless in his ambitions. Named “Man of the Year” in a People’s Daily poll, and the son of a former Communist Party leader, he is said to be looking for a seat on the Politburo Standing Committee.
He was left out of the last round of appointments at senior level, despite his formidable credentials as former commerce minister, but he is clearly not averse to playing on his popularity.
There has been a strong economic focus during he meeting. Foreign minister Yang Jiechi said on the fringes that the world needed policy co-ordination on how best to move on from the stimulus plans introduced to kickstart economies the world over.
He said the G20 forum of major economies should play a bigger role in world economic affairs, keeping their eye fixed on economic rebalancing.
On the international front, after months of fractious relations between the world’s established superpower, the United States, and the rising one, China, Beijing believes it is up to the US to improve relations adversely affected by US arms sales to Taiwan and President Barack Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama.
Mr Yang said that pressure and sanctions were not the “fundamental” solution to the stand-off over Iran’s nuclear programme. Beijing, he said, advocated talks to resolve the issue peacefully, and urged intensified diplomatic efforts.