High degree of autonomy

Dalai Lama side: The Tibetans should exercise full power on culture, politics, education and religion, except foreign policy and national defense. Also, the PLA should withdraw from Tibet, and instead an international peaceful zone be established there.

Central government: That kind of high degree of autonomy would overthrow all existing institutions in Tibet. That would be a return to theocracy.

"Tibet government-in-exile"

DL: "Tibet government-in-exile is representative of Tibetans and their interests."

CG: The central government of the People's Republic of China and the people's government of the Tibet autonomous region represent the ethnic minorities in Tibet. The so-called "Tibet government-in-exile" has been created by a small group of separatists, who launched an armed rebellion in 1959, but failed in their motive and fled to some foreign countries. It has been engaged in splitting activities and sabotage for decades. Its existence is illegal and no state in the world recognizes it.

Tibet as part of China

DL: Tibet has never been part of China. It has been an independent country occupied by the Chinese troops.

CG: Tibet has been part of China for centuries. The central government has exercised indisputable and effective administrative power.

"Greater Tibetan-inhabited Area"

DL: "All Tibetan-inhabited areas should be integrated into one autonomous region", and other ethnic groups should leave the region.

CG: Tibetan autonomous areas were established and defined according to the principles in the Constitution and on the basis of historical, political and economic conditions, and reality.

The so-called "Greater Tibet", which would take up a quarter of China's territory, never existed. Apart from the Tibet autonomous region, Tibetans also live in autonomous areas in other provinces and regions such as in Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai and Gansu.

(China Daily November 11, 2008)