China Gets Pressured Over Tibet
International pressure mounts on China to stop the violence in Tibet as Chinese rule spreads to other regions. The New York Times reports that United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appealed to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jeichi to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama, who is currently living in self-imposed exile in India. A similar plea was made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
A group of Nobel laureates also condemned the violence against protesters and asked the Chinese government to halt its unwarranted campaign against the Dalai Lama. Other reports say that the Dalai Lama is willing to meet Chinese leaders in Beijing if they are ready for a Tibet dialogue. However, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the Dalai Lama needs to stop separatist activities and give up his stance for Tibet’s independence before a dialogue can occur.