1. The Lhasa incident
What happened in Lhasa recently was by no means "peaceful demonstrations" or "non-violent" activities as claimed by the Dalai group. They were serious and violent crimes. The rioters burned or slashed to death 18 innocent people, including a baby less than one year old. Three hundred and eighty-two innocent people were injured in the incident, including 58 who were severely injured. The rioters set fire to more than 300 locations. They burned down 7 schools, 5 hospitals, 908 shops and private residences. These criminal activities caused great loss of life and property, with a direct economic loss of nearly RMB 250 million. No responsible government will sit idly by in the face of such violent crimes. The authorities of the Tibet Autonomous Region exercised maximum restraint, and strictly abided by the law in dealing with these criminal activities. No lethal weapons were used. The law enforcement departments suffered heavy casualties – one death and 241 injuries, including 23 who were severely injured. The law enforcement actions won the support of people of all ethnic groups in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Information gathered by the Chinese side show that the incident in Lhasa was premeditated, instigated and organized by the Dalai group, and that it was part of the so-called "Tibetan people's uprising" incited by the Dalai group last January in an attempt to undermine stability in the Tibetan-inhabited areas. The Dalai group tried to use the Olympic Games to exert pressure on the Chinese Government, and realise their illicit goal of splitting up China. The police authorities of the Tibet Autonomous Region have arrested a number of major criminal suspects who have close links with the overseas Dalai group and were involved in planning and carrying out the Lhasa rioting. The network of the so-called "security department" of the Dalai Lama's "government-in-exile" operating inside China has been uncovered.
2. The so-called "middle way" and "high degree of autonomy"
Dalai has proposed the so-called "middle way" and repeatedly claimed that he no longer insists on "Tibet independence". The fact of the matter is that the Dalai Lama established what he called a "government-in-exile" and he imposed himself as "head of state". The "government-in-exile" has a "national flag" and a "constitution", which makes an explicit call for the creation of a "federal democratic republic" in Tibet. Dalai has called for the establishment of a "greater Tibet" that includes not only Tibet, but also Tibetan-inhabited areas in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, which never existed in China's history. The Dalai Lama also wanted the Han and other ethnic groups to leave this "greater Tibet". The Central Government must not station troops there, and issues related to external relations must be handled by "greater Tibet" itself. It is obvious that such sweeping "true autonomy" is no less than full-blown "Tibet independence".
3. Achievements in Tibet
Before the democratic reform in 1959, the old Tibet was a feudal serfdom and theocracy ruled by monks and nobles. The Dalai family owned over 6,000 serfs. Serfdom in old Tibet was even darker, and more backward, barbarous and cruel than that in Medieval Europe. Under serfdom, the economy in Tibet was stagnant, the average life expectancy was only 35.5 years and over 90% of the populations were illiterate. The Dalai Lama, as the biggest serf owner and theocratic ruler, was undoubtedly responsible for this. A principal purpose of the Dalai group in plotting the recent incident in Lhasa is to sabotage the sound economic and social development in Tibet, achieve Tibet independence, return Tibet to the old dark days and restore the Dalai Lama's position and privileges.
Since 1959, thanks to the support of the Central Government and people across China, Tibet has achieved economic growth and social stability. People in Tibet today live a much better life and enjoy extensive human rights. Since 2003, the state has invested RMB 60.158 billion in infrastructure development in Tibet. GDP of the region has registered an average growth rate of above 12%, with per capita GDP topping RMB 10,000. Income for farmers and herdsmen has been growing at double digit rates for five years running, reaching RMB 2,788 last year. In 2006, the Tibet Autonomous Region had more than 35,000 deputies to people's congresses at various levels, over 1,000 schools with more than 500,000 students, and 1,378 hospitals and clinics. All farmers and herdsmen are covered by a medical care program that provides free basic medical services. The average life expectancy has increased to 67 years. Religious activities are being carried out in a normal way. In 2006, there were over 1,780 religious sites and more than 46,000 lamas and nuns for a population of 2.6 million. All in all, Tibet has never enjoyed such sound development as it does today and the prospects for the future are bright.
4. Contacts and talks between the central government and the Dalai Lama
The policy of the Chinese Government towards the Dalai Lama is consistent. We have maintained contact with the Dalai Lama with great patience. Our door to dialogue with the Dalai Lama was open in the past and remains open now. The problem is that the Dalai Lama has chosen violence over dialogue. However, if he changes his mind, stops separatist activities, particularly his current activities of instigating and plotting violent crimes in Tibet and other places of China and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games, we are ready to resume contact and talks with him.