Comments on: China’s Real India Position: Dismantle Dharamsala

By: Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Chris Devonshire-Ellis — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:02:39 +0000

Dear Rangzen; Thank you for your comments. I have considerable sympathy with your views. However, one thing is for sure. Planning for a succession when the Dalai Lama is to be reincarnated as a very young boy does present a unique set of problems. Mystical or otherwise, it’s not an ideal method to plan sustainable governance.

By: Rangzen Rolang

Rangzen Rolang — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:48:28 +0000

Dear Mr. Devonshire-Ellis,

China, as a whole was run by warlords, Ma Bufang being but one example. You state that “the Chinese have done a huge amount in investing in infrastructure in Tibet and appear to have brought some peace and security”. I do not dispute the uninvited investment that the Chinese “brought” to Tibet. However, I do not believe that they have invested because they like the Tibetans whom they have often referred to as “savages and barbarians”. China has invested in Tibet because of its own strategic interests – the same way it has invested in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang/Eastern Turkestan.
As far as “stability and security” I am surprised if the average Tibetan thinks that. Living in fear to speak up, being marginalized while foreign colonizers in your land get all benefits and the colonizing country ravages and destroys your religion and culture right in front of your eyes. I beg to differ, Sir!

By: JJJackson

JJJackson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:47:05 +0000

The Chinese want to threaten and browbeat India into giving it what they want re Tibet and the Dalai Lama. If instead, borrowing a page from the way things are done in India, China came clean and sincerely explained to India its fears, there can be no doubt that India and Indians would be more sympathetic. Working with the Dalai Lama, India could forge a comprehensive solution to the Indo-China-Tibet border dispute. But as it is, China is seen as an expansionist, aggressive and domineering power that is using force and intimidation to extract an unfair and unequal agreement out of India. Naturally, Indians resent this Chinese attitude and have become increasingly anti-Chinese in their feelings and ever more nationalistic.

By: Tub

Tub — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:43:00 +0000

@Chris Devonshire:

You mean like how Europeans brought “civilization” to savages through colonial rule or the Japanase brought prosperity in Asia through their Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere.

By: Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Chris Devonshire-Ellis — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:59:49 +0000

Dear Rangzen; I appreciate your comments, however I have no wish to have this website blocked from view in China so opinions have to be moderated. If the site is blocked because it is too aggressive in opinions such as these, then the debate cannot be followed in the exact country where it should be. I may also add that the Chinese have done a huge amount in investing in infrastructure in Tibet and appear to have brought some peace and security to a region that pre-China was dangerous and often run by Monk warlords. Joseph Rocks accounts of travels in Tibet and Sichuan in the 1930’s being a case in point.

By: The_Observer

The_Observer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:22:41 +0000

@Rangzen Rolang

See the link below where the Chinese authorities recently executed at least three Tibetans from the 2008 Lhasa riots which resulted in people being murdered.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/execute-10242009185910.html

While the Chinese government today may not the same as during Mao’s time, the Chinese can and will do whatever it takes to preserve the integrity of the country.

By: Rangzen Rolang

Rangzen Rolang — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:17:37 +0000

Dear Mr. Devonshire-Ellis,

Overall, good article. I do not agree with the way you phrase it “Following the movement of China into Tibet in the late 1950’s”. What do you mean my “movement”? This was a blatant invasion, occupation and annexation condemned by the United Nations. This is an ultimate act of imperialism on the scale of what Russia did to other countries to form the Soviet Union. No matter what China does, Tibetans are getting radicalized. This is what happens to dispossessed people whose land and country are stolen. To many Tibetans, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the obstacle to their dream – free and independent Tibet. The passing of the Dalai Lama outside of Tibet will be a bleak moment for China, for then will the pent up anger anger and rage of the Tibetans surface. Are the Chinese going to be able to kill the Tibetans who will revolt inside Tibet?

By: Chris Devonshire-Ellis

Chris Devonshire-Ellis — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:19:42 +0000

Thank you Observer. I have travelled extensively in Tibet (including to some of the sensitive border areas) and Northern India and am well aware of the issues. As the Dalai Lama ages, the Tibet question is now developing into a major political issue in terms of what comes after his death. China is now preparing for just this.

By: AgniVayu

AgniVayu — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:22:39 +0000

I don’t see how Indians can dismantle Dharamsala unless the Tibetan refugees engage in terrorist activities.
The Chinese are used to a strong arm state which pushes it’s will, and don’t understand the concept of freedom. They believe that the Indian government must be supporting Tibetan separatism by not shutting down Dharmasala. Ofcourse India has already recognized Tibet as part of China so I am not sure what they want other than not “lose face” by accepting a border.
Islamic terrorists based in Pakistan regularly launch attacks on China’s Xinjiang (and even in Beijing) province. One would think that would be higher priority for them.

By: The_Observer

The_Observer — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:51:41 +0000

This has got to be one of the more insightful articles on Sino_Indian relations. That is also probably why that in the absense of the Indians dismantling Dharamsala the Chinese would like to re-possess Tawang. The Chinese would want to neutralize what they regard as the other center of power for the Dali Lama.