Author: Joy Living
Date: 07-07-08 23:40
From www.salon.com.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET INFORMED THEN GET REAL by TaMu - July 1, 2008
I live in China and the Tibet situation is grossly misunderstood outside of China. Here's the reality.
Fact: The Chinese government does not care about Tibetans or their well-being.
The reason China annexed Tibet had nothing to do with all the propagandic Chinese rhetoric we hear today about Tibet having ALWAYS been a part of China throughout history, or that the Tibetans are Chinese, or that it was a benevolent act to liberate a backwards country. China annexed Tibet because Tibet is rich in natural resources that China wants. They cannot be shamed into changing their behavior towards Tibetans because they do not care about Tibetans. They care what's in the ground under the feet of Tibetans and what's in the mountains above the heads of Tibetans.
This is half the reason why the new railroad was built connecting Tibet to the rest of China. It's to get natural resources out.
Fact: The railroad runs in two directions.
In the last 60 years, the Han Chinese population of Tibet has grown from almost zero to over 40%. The Chinese government gives tax breaks and economic incentives to Han Chinese who relocate to Tibet. Simply put, the long term Chinese strategy is to reduce Tibetans to an insignificant minority in their own country. Aside from laying down on the train tracks (which would only result in Tibetans getting run over by trains), a strategy of non-violence by Tibetans cannot address this demographic shift.
Fact: Chinese people do not like Tibetans and are not sympathetic to their plight.
If you ask the average man on the street, the opinion of Han Chinese of Tibetans is that the Tibetans are lazy, untrustworthy, theiving, ungrateful, backwards animals. Han Chinese people hate Tibetans. Violent uprisings like the one this past spring elicit no emotions of sympathy whatsoever for the plight of Tibetans; they harden Chinese public opinion against Tibetans.
Fact: Beijing hates the Dali Lama and is actively subverting Tibetan Buddhism.
The Dali Lama is China's Osama Bin Laden. Every Chinese schoolchild is taught that he is an evil, splittist, depraved liar. Beijing will never deal with the Dali Lama. They may meet with him or his envoys, but the chances of some sort of agreement or resolution that would satisfy Tibetan grievances is zero. They'll wait for him to die and then appoint their own Dali Lama. They've already done this with the Panchen Lama. There is no chance of China reaching any kind of meaningful accord with the Dali Lama because his value as a target of propaganda outwieghs anything he can offer China. China will wait until he dies and then deal with the puppet Dali Lama they appoint themselves.
Fact: Tibetans are not prepared for an armed conflict.
The riots this spring were fought with fire, knives, and rocks. The PLA has a standing presence in Tibet and they're better armed, better trained, and have no qualms about turning their weapons against their own countrymen if need be. The stashes of weapons that the PLA has allegedly found in various monostaries are pathetically insufficient means to fight an armed conflict.
Fact: In the event of a sustained conflict between Tibetans and China, the Tibetans are on their own.
No country in the world is going to interfere in a conflict between Tibet and China. Not India, not the US, not the EU, not the UN (China is a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council) not anyone. The idea that any foreign government would intervene in a conflict between Tibetans and China is simply wrong. They will pass congressional resolutions, they'll make statements, they'll invite the Dali Lama for another round of awards, but they will do nothing, if for no other reason than invading Tibet is a militarily logistical nightmare.
Fact: Free Tibet concerts, Olympic torch relay disruptions, and pressuring foreign governments to use diplomatic pressure are a waste of time.
These activities may make foreigners feel good, right, and moral, but they have the actual effect of hardening Chinese public opinion and governmental resolve against Tibet. China considers the Tibet situation to be an "internal affair", which to them means that it is not proper for foreigners to interfere. Any activity that China deems an "internal affair" (Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan) means that the Chinese do not care what foreigners think and do not want the help/criticism/suggestions of foreigners. If you don't believe how hysterical the Chinese are about their alleged "internal affairs", try convincing a mainland Chinese sometime that Taiwan is not presently a part of the People's Republic of China.
Fact: Tibetans are quickly reaching a point of desperation.
Tibetans are being bred out of their own country, disenfranchised politically, excluded economically, and abandoned by their religious leader who spends his time globetrotting and receiving awards from foreign governments. They have little to lose, since they've lost almost everything already. Their choice at this point is basically between burning out and fading away.
So, to sum up: Tibetans have been using nonviolence for decades, with the net result of unfavorable demographics and economic, political and religious disenfranchisement. When Tibetans do use violence, it has the net effect of hardening Chinese public opinion against Tibetans. Tibetans are not prepared to fight a conflict now, and they will be even more outnumbered and marginalized if they choose to fight in the future. When they do chose to fight, they will do it on their own. Free Tibet concerts and protests in foreign countries are a waste of time and adversely affect the Tibetans and their cause. The present strategy being used by Tibetans and foreign sympathizers has a net negative effect.
Free Tibet? Not a chance. Regardless of Tibet's history, Tibet is going to be a part of China for at least as long as the PRC exists and is run by the CCP, and probably a lot longer.
REBUTTAL of TaMu by NEIMING - July 2008
Fact: The Chinese government does not care about Tibetans or their well-being.
China annexed Tibet because Tibet is rich in natural resources that China wants. …
The reason Chinese government of any kind would annex Tibet is because if it does not, some other powers would. The geographic location of Tibet is such that if a hostile power occupies it, it can literarily break China apart at any time of its own choosing. Any Chinese government is compelled to make Tibet part of China if it is serious about the national survival.
Fact: The railroad runs in two directions.
In the last 60 years, the Han Chinese population of Tibet has grown from almost zero to over 40%.
The population of TAR (Tibetan Autonomous Region) is 92% Tibetan. I know Salon readers are not exactly well informed when it come the issue of China/Tibet. It does not mean you can just make it up figures as you like.
Fact: Chinese people do not like Tibetans and are not sympathetic to their plight.
Chinese people are prejudiced like people of all ethnicities are prejudiced. It is not pretty, but it is a fact. Another unpleasant fact is that compare to Chinese (whether Han or otherwise) all other people looked lazy. How do you think they managed to transform their economy in 30 year when the same feat took western powers over 200 years?
Fact: Beijing hates the Dali Lama and is actively subverting Tibetan Buddhism.
If you live in Beijing, visit Yong He Gong Tibetan Buddhist Temple. There you will learn that Buddhism in general, and Tibetan Buddhism in particular are thriving in China. There are over 40000 monks in Tibet, financially supported by a combination of government funding and private donation by Tibetan and Han Chinese alike, inside and outside of China. Chinese government’s vilification of Dalai Lama (which I think is grossly misguided) is for his political roles and stands, not his religious ones.
Fact: Tibetans are quickly reaching a point of desperation.
Tibetans are being bred out of their own country, disenfranchised politically, excluded economically, and abandoned by their religious leader who spends his time globetrotting and receiving awards from foreign governments.
Tibetans are unfortunately disenfranchised because they have a difficult time adapting to the new market economy. The reasons are extremely complex. There are certainly government failures and neglects. Most of Han migration into Tibet pre-1990s was a part of the government’s effort to build an education system from scratch. That effort had largely failed. The current migrants into Tibet are the entrepreneurial Han and Muslin Chinese escaping fierce competition in other more densely populated parts of China. These migrants tried and succeeded in getting a share of the large governmental financial investment intended for Tibetans. Their success is resented by the disenfranchised Tibetans in the same way that Korean shop owners in South Central LA were resented by African Americans during the Rodney King riot.
So, to sum up: Tibetans have been using nonviolence for decades, with the net result of unfavorable demographics and economic, political and religious disenfranchisement.
Dalai Lama and Tibetan exiles adopted the nonviolence AFTER a failed arm rebellion in 1959 and numerous other arm incursions founded CIA afterward. They also adopted the slogans of freedom, democracy and self-determination. They are very successful in purging much of the traditional (but demanding part) of Tibetan Buddhism from its public face to make it a quintessential new age religion. I am not here to question the sincerity in their transformation. I only wish to point out Tibet pre-1959 was not the exotica as is now being perceived in the west. In fact it was a theocratic serfdom. That old system existed for its own historical and geographical reasons, and on-doubt would have transformed to adapt to the modern society with or without communist takeover. But history need to be respected for its consequences, good or ill.
To sum up: Salon is not exactly the place for serious discussion on the issue of Tibet and China. The article itself is more of a philosophical argument. The Salon community is essentially an echo chamber on such alien issues. So, please go back to argue the latest Joan Walsh polemic instead.
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Political discussions belong to the World Forum. Please excuse these political posts on the Life Forum. I am only responding to the topic raised by our friend Yewtai and will now take my leave.
Regards to All.
/j
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