China’s Attempt to Dictate to Taiwan

By Tenzin Samten / September 17, 2016;

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Phioto: Reuters /Charles Platiau

China has warned Taiwan not to allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit the country. This warning follows a recent invitation extended to His Holiness by Freddy Lim, Taiwan’s legislator and a famous heavy metal singer, during his recent visit to Dharamshala in Northern India with the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan, a coalition of various human rights non-government organisations (NGOs) based in Taiwan.

Taiwan is a self-ruled island country, which China claims as its own. Spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Ma Xiaoguang said, “The intention of some forces in Taiwan to collude with separatists seeking ‘Tibet independence’ and to create disturbances will have a severe impact on relations across the Taiwan Strait,” in a warning to Taiwan not to worsen their already poor tie with China. “We firmly oppose any form of visit,” he added.

Legislator Freddy Lim with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Photo: Focus Taiwan News

China has labelled His Holiness the Dalai Lama a separatist and considers him to be a threat to China’s stability, this despite the Tibetan leader repeatedly saying that he calls for a genuine autonomy for Tibet and not complete independence from China.

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, who vowed to reduce Taiwan’s dependence on China following her election earlier this year, has not yet specified whether her government will go ahead with the invitation or not. Freddy Lim, who officially invited His Holiness to Taiwan, is an outspoken critic of China.

“If he[the Dalai Lama] submits his [visa] application, our government will handle it based on relevant rules,” the Taiwan Foreign Minister spokeswoman told Reuters.

The Dalai Lama, 81, fled Tibet in 1959 after an unsuccessful uprising against the Communist China. Since then he has been living in India as his home. Currently, His Holiness is in France for public teachings and talks.

Freddy Lim appeared at a rally in Times Square on September 17, demanding United Nations membership for Taiwan. The point was emphasised that Taiwan is an island nation that has its own government and administration, its own military and taxation, its own democracy, its own civic culture and national identity, its own currency and banking system, its own national beer, and an unstoppable collective aspiration for full sovereignty and that Taiwan should have a seat on the UN like any other country that controls its own borders.