China’s EU ambassador moves to counter criticism over Tibet
The Parliament, 21 January 2013
China’s ambassador to the EU Wu Hailong has responded to criticism of Beijing’s policies in Tibet, saying his country “deeply grieves” over the spate of self-immolations in recent months.
But Hailong, China’s top diplomat in Europe, expressed concern at EU criticism of China over the tragedies.
Dozens of Tibetans have set fire to themselves in protest against the Communist party’s rule since 2009, with many losing their lives.
The authorities have periodically launched crackdowns, rounded up suspects, locked down monasteries and subjected monks to political re-education, but protests have continued in Tibetan communities in Sichuan, Tibet, Gansu and Qinghai.
The deaths have once again put the spotlight on China’s human rights record with some MEPs, such as UK member Edward McMillan-Scott, particularly critical of Beijing’s “totalitarian regime” and “heavy-handed policies in Tibet”.
However, in an exclusive interview, Hailong, arguably the most senior Chinese official in Europe, moved to counter criticism, telling this website, “Life is precious. The Chinese government cherishes the life of every one of its 1.3 billion citizens, and has done its utmost to prevent self-immolations.
“The victims took their own lives through extreme measure, inflicting great pain towards their families and friends. We deeply grieve the loss of life and mourn the sorrow and sadness of their families.”
But, in a robust defence of Chinese policy towards Tibet, he says that “some foreign forces have been involved in the secret planning, provocation, organisation and implementation of the incidents”.
He said, “We have noticed that every time immediately after the self-immolation, the Dalai group is always able to provide the media with the videos, pictures, and details of the self-immolation victim. Invariably, they would rush to attack the policies of the Chinese government on religion and ethnic minority, advocate for the Tibetan separatist movement, and openly urge the international community to intervene.”
He went on, “In the aftermath of these tragedies, we have noticed some views expressed from the EU. However, instead of condemning such activities that violate human conscience and morals or the people who are behind these incidents, the EU criticised the Chinese government.
“Such a decision not only sends out confusing signals, but also runs counter to the values and human rights principles of Europe.”
The ambassador said he wanted to address issues raised by the self-immolations.
“First, is it true that the people in Tibet do not enjoy religious freedom?”
He added, “According to statistics, among the three million plus Tibetan population, there are 46,000 monks and 1780 monasteries. On average, every 1600 people share a monastery, making it the top Chinese provincial region in terms of the number of monasteries.”
“Over the years, the Chinese government has made huge investment to protect and renovate frescoes, statues, thangka, Buddhist scripture rolls, musical instruments, and shrines.”
He also sought to counter claims that that the Tibetan language and culture have been suppressed, saying, “In Tibet, it is clearly provided by law that equal importance should be attached to the Tibetan language and the Mandarin, with primary focus attached to the Tibetan language. Schools follow a bilingual practice of instruction.”
“It is fair to say that the popularity rate of the Tibetan language in Tibet is in a much better shape compared with even some of the official less-spoken European languages in certain EU member states.”
He said it was also wrong to suggest that the traditional way of life in Tibet has been threatened, saying, “Some people have a stereotype towards Tibet, believing that the ‘Shangri-la’ should remain unchanged forever and should be kept away from the modern industrialisation. This idea is neither realistic nor fair.”
Another “misconception”, he argues, was that Tibet is closed for outside visitors.
He said, “In 2005, Tibet has received 1.8 million visitors from both home and abroad. However, in the first 11 months of 2012, Tibet has already received over 10 million visitors, three times the population of Tibet. As a leading tourist destination, France receives 80 million visitors a year, only one and quarter times of its population.
“Due to the anoxic atmosphere and low temperature environment of Tibet, the inconvenient transportation options, fragile environment, and limited reception capacity, the Chinese government has adopted measures to limit the number of non-Chinese citizens to enter Tibet as an effort to ensure smooth travel and tourist safety.
“However, these measures are not meant to prevent foreign friends who are interested in the region from visiting Tibet.”
“I sincerely encourage more people from Europe to visit Tibet and to experience in person its beauty and the life of its people. I believe that experience will be much more convincing than what I have introduced here.
However, his comments were challenged by McMillan-Scott, parliament vice-president for democracy and human rights and the first politician to visit Tibet after a three-year blackout in 1996.
He said, “Ambassador Wu Hailong’s comments serve to show why the levels of frustration felt by the Tibetan community are as high as they are. China’s totalitarian regime unashamedly denies any responsibility for the tragic self-immolations of nearly 100 Tibetans in protest at China’s heavy-handed policies in Tibet and the forced exile of the Tibetan spiritual leader, his holiness the Dalai Lama. He has said that Tibet is a prison.”
He said parliament’s Tibet intergroup “continues to receive credible evidence that Tibetan culture, including the language, is being systematically wiped out by the Chinese regime”.
He added, “I am also convinced that Tibetan prisoners have been killed by the Beijing regime for body parts for transplant surgery, as have other religious groups who neither smoke nor drink, such as Uighurs and Falun Gong practitioners.
“As ambassador to the EU, Wu Hailong should back up his unfounded claim that ‘Tibet is open to visitors from abroad’ by facilitating an envoy of MEPs to Tibet, and allow us to organise our own fact-finding meetings without being shadowed by the same security forces that have been instrumental in the brutal crackdown on the freedoms of Tibetans.
“The EU should have a special representative for Tibet, as the USA has done for some 10 years.”