PM Lobsang Sangay leads 28th Tibetan Task Force meeting

By Lauren Chaplin / July 19, 2016;

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay presides over the two day meeting from July 15 -16 at Dharamshala
Photo: tibet.net

The Tibetan Task Force on Negotiations met in Dharamshala on July 15-16, its 28th meeting to date. A body of the Central Tibetan Administration, the task force is dedicated to resolving the issue of Tibet peacefully. The task force discussed political developments in China, issues relating to future dialogue with the leadership of the People’s Republic of China and international political developments.

The meeting was chaired by the Tibetan prime minister-in-exile, Dr Lobsang Sangay. He reaffirmed the Tibetan leadership’s desire for the peaceful resolution of Tibetan issues and restated their commitment to the Middle Way Approach.

Speaking to Asian News International, Sangay made the following statement:

“This is the first task force where we are discussing many of the developments in China, in Tibet, and internationally, including Brexit [Britain’s decision to leave the European Union] and the United States election and India and the South China Sea Philippines case – everything. [We’re] trying to assess where we are and what’s happening all over the world, what’s happening in China, and [if] there [is] a prospect for dialogue where envoys of his Holiness the Dalai Lama could meet with their Chinese counterparts.”

Dr Sangay went on to describe Chinese foreign policy as “nationalistic” and Chinese domestic policy as “repressive”. He also acknowledged the rise of “nationalism” and “extremism” across the world. Later, at a special media briefing on July 18, he added “We are ready. The envoys of the Dalai Lama are ready to meet the Chinese representatives anytime, anywhere.”

Prime Minister Sangay continues his role as head of the task force after winning his second term in office in the elections earlier this year. The Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Negotiations was formed in 1999 to recommend policies and strategies to find a peaceful and mutually agreeable resolution to the issue of Tibet. It pursues the Middle Way Approach, which would provide genuine autonomy for Tibetans without granting Tibet full independence from China. This is the sixth such meeting since His Holiness the Dalai Lama completely devolved his political role in 2011.