1994-2001

Mar 1994: In his official statement on 10 March 1994, His Holiness theDalai Lama expressed his concern at the lack of positive response from theChinese government to his initiatives. While proposing to consult his people onthe future course of the freedom struggle, His Holiness said in the statement:"Whatever the outcome of such conclusion, it will serve as a guideline forour future dealings with China and the reorientation of the course of ourfreedom struggle... I continue to remain committed to finding a peaceful andnegotiated solution to the issue of Tibet with the Chinese governmentdirectly."

Apr 1994: On 28 April 1994, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with the USPresident Bill Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore. He also had a separatemeeting with the US National Security Advisor Anthony Lake. The White Houserelease said that the meeting was aimed to discuss efforts to initiate dialoguewith the Chinese leadership and to inquire about efforts to preserve Tibetanreligion and culture.

Jul 1994: From 20 to 23 July 1994, the Chinese government convened the"Third Forum on Work in Tibet" in Beijing and decided to follow ahardline policy on Tibet. The Propaganda Committee of the "TAR"Communist Party summarised the decisions of the Third Work Forum in a documentfor internal distribution among CPC cadres, entitled, A Golden Bridge LeadingInto a New Era. The document revealed that the Chinese government was no longerseriously interested in dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama or in hisreturn.

Mar 1995: In his official statement on 10 March 1995, His Holiness theDalai Lama said, "I have consistently and sincerely made attempts to engagethe Chinese government in earnest negotiations over the future of Tibet.Regrettably China has rejected my proposals for a negotiated resolution of ourproblem. Instead she has set the pre-condition that I formally recognise Tibetto be 'an inseparable part of China' before any negotiations can start."His Holiness suggested that the true nature of the historical relationship ofTibet and China is best left for Tibetan and Chinese historians to studyobjectively, and said, "I also encourage other scholars, as well asinternational jurists and their institutions, to study the history of Tibet anddraw their unbiased conclusions."

May 1995: On 14 May 1995, His Holiness the Dalai Lama formally recognisedGendun Choekyi Nyima, a six-year old boy from a semi-nomadic family in Tibet, asthe reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. Just before making the publicannouncement, His Holiness the Dalai Lama informed Beijing of his intentionthrough Gyalo Thondup.

May 1995: On 16 May 1995, two days after His Holiness the Dalai Lama’sannouncement, the Chinese government rejected the choice. A spokesman for theState Council’s Bureau for Religious Affairs described His Holiness the DalaiLama’s nomination as "totally illegal and invalid". On the same day,Chatrel Rinpoche, the leader of the Search Committee of the Panchen Lama’sreincarnation, was detained in Chengdu along with his assistant Jampa Chungla,for "colluding with the Dalai Lama." Later, on 21 April 1997, theChinese authorities sentenced Chatrel Rinpoche with imprisonment of five yearsand his assistants, Jampa Chungla and Samdrup, received imprisonment of fouryears and two years respectively. Similarly, the 11th Panchen Lama, GendunChoekyi Nyima, along with his family, was moved to an unknown location, where hestill remains under Chinese custody.

Jul 1995: In July 1995, the "TAR" Party Secretary, Chen Kuiyuan,criticised His Holiness the Dalai Lama as "not only reactionarypolitically, but also a religious renegade who degenerated into betrayingBuddhism", and called upon Tibetans to "mercilessly expose anddenounce the Dalai Lama’s conspiracy and criminal acts."

Nov 1995: On 29 November 1995, the Chinese government announced GyaltsenNorbu as the 11th Panchen Lama and vilified Gendun Choekyi Nyima.

Dec 1995: His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued a public statement statingthat his recognition of the Panchen Lama’s reincarnation could not be changed.His Holiness said: "On several occasions in the past years I haveapproached the Chinese Government in this matter without success. Last monthagain I appealed directly to the Chinese President Jiang Zemin to extend hisgovernment’s recognition to the young Panchen Lama. I had hoped that apersonal appeal form my side might facilitate a gesture of goodwill from theChinese Government. ...It is unfortunate that the Chinese Government has chosento politicise this issue and to appoint a rival Panchen Lama."

Jan 1996: In January 1996, the Chinese authorities in Tibet labelled thephotographs of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Gendun Choekyi Nyima as"reactionary literature" and imposed a strict ban on it.

Feb 1996: In February 1996, Xizang Ribao (Tibet Daily) carried aseries of reports blaming the Dalai Lama for unrest in Tibet; calling for theintensification of propaganda offensive against the influence of the Dalai Lama;and warning monasteries and nunneries where monks and nuns involved in politicalunrest to face their closure.

Mar 1996: Despite the tragic developments in Tibet, His Holiness theDalai Lama reiterated that he was committed to the spirit of the middle-wayapproach. In his official statement on 10 March 1996, His Holiness said:"We wish to establish a sustainable relationship with China based on mutualrespect, mutual benefit and friendship. In doing so, we will think not onlyabout the fundamental interests of the Tibetan people, but also take seriouslythe consideration of China’s security concerns and her economicinterests."

Jul 1996: In Tibet, the Chinese authorities launched three majorpolitical campaigns of "Patriotic Education", "SpiritualCivilisation", and "Strike Hard" and stepped up repression evenfurther. Whilst "Patriotic Education" and "Spiritual Civilisation"are tailored to undermine Tibetan religion, culture and language, "StrikeHard" is targeted against Tibetan political activism; this ranges fromspeaking to foreigners to possessing publications produced by the TibetanAdministration-in-exile and participating in peaceful protest demonstration.

Sep 1996: On 30 September 1996, the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo had beensentenced to three years in labour camp for writing a joint letter addressed toChina’s President Jiang Zemin supporting the Tibetan self-determination andalso calling for dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He was the firstChinese to be sentenced for speaking up for Tibet.

Oct 1996: In October 1996, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Europe,where he addressed the three bodies of the European Union. In his address to theEuropean Parliament, His Holiness the Dalai Lama urged for their intensifiedefforts to help facilitate an early and peaceful resolution of the Tibetan issuethrough negotiation.

Nov 1996: On 28 November 1996, coinciding with President Jiang Zemin’seight-day visit to India, His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued a statement urgingthe Chinese President to reverse China’s repressive policy in Tibet. HisHoliness the Dalai Lama said: "Although I have a strong desire to meetPresident Jiang Zemin while he is in India it is obvious that in view of the newwave of repression and the ongoing campaign to denounce me inside Tibet theprospect of such a meeting is unrealistic. I, therefore, take this opportunityto urge President Jiang Zemin to reverse China’s repressive policy inTibet."

Jan 1997: Around 240 exile Tibetan representatives took part in athree-day workshop in Dharamshala to discuss a proposed referendum on the futurecourse of the Tibetan struggle. His Holiness the Dalai Lama had proposed areferendum in his 10th March statements of 1994 and 1995.

Feb 1997: On 19 February 1997, China’s paramount leader Deng Xiaopingdied in Beijing after a long absence from a public view. In his statement issuedon the same day, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that as soon as the Tibetansreceive a positive indication from Beijing, he was ready to enter intonegotiations anytime and anywhere without preconditions. His Holiness furthersaid, "I very much regret that serious negotiations on the issue of Tibetcould not take place during Mr. Deng Xiaoping’s life time. The absence of Mr.Deng provides new opportunities and challenges for both the Tibetans and theChinese. I hope the Chinese leadership will realise the wisdom of resolving theissue of Tibet through negotiations in a spirit of reconciliation andcompromise. True stability must be based on mutual trust, consent and benefitfor all concerned, not on the use of force."

Feb 1997: On 24 February 1997, His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued anotherstatement, explaining the purpose of his visit to Taiwan in March 1997. Thestatement read: "Although my visit to Taiwan will be religious in nature,there are some who wish to interpret it politically. Therefore, I would like totake this opportunity to reiterate that the Tibetan struggle is neitheranti-Chinese nor anti-China. Over the past many years, I have sought a peacefulresolution of the Tibetan problem through negotiations with the Chineseleadership in Beijing. I have proposed a framework for negotiations forself-rule for Tibet. These initiatives have been taken in a genuine spirit ofreconciliation and compromise. However, the government of the People’sRepublic of China has so far not responded positively."

Mar 1997: On 10 March 1997, His Holiness the Dalai Lama accused China ofemploying a policy of cultural genocide in Tibet. In his official statement, HisHoliness said: "These new measures in the field of culture, religion andeducation, coupled with the unabated influx of Chinese immigrants to Tibet,which has the effect of overwhelming Tibet’s distinct cultural and religiousidentity and reducing the Tibetans to an insignificant minority in their owncountry, amounts to a policy of cultural genocide."

Mar 1997: From 22 to 27 March 1997, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visitedTaiwan, where he received a tumultuous reception from Taiwanese people. Duringthis visit, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with Taiwanese President LeeTeng-hui, Vice President and Premier and also with the leaders of Taiwan’sDemocratic Progressive Party.

May 1997: On 25 May 1997, His Holiness the Dalai Lama told a gathering inNew York that should his death occur in exile, he would be reborn outside Tibet.His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, "The reincarnation will definitely notcome under Chinese control; it will be outside, in the free world. This I cansay with absolute certainty."

Jun 1997: In June 1997, the Chinese authorities called for five-prongedstrategy to combat the "Dalai clique’s international campaign"against its rule in Tibet.

Oct 1997: China’s President Jiang Zemin paid an eight-day visit to theUnited Sates from 26 October 1997. During his 45-minutes speech at the HarvardUniversity in Boston, a Harvard student asked why Beijing had refused to meetwith His Holiness the Dalai Lama even though the Tibetan leader had no longerdemanded Tibet’s independence. Jiang Zemin replied: "Our policy towardsthe 14th Dalai Lama is a very clear-cut one. He must recognise publicly thatTibet is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China, that he muststate publicly to give up Tibet’s independence and that he must stop allactivities aimed at splitting the motherland."

Oct 1997: While reacting to President Jiang Zemin’s statement, TempaTsering, Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relationsof the Tibetan Administration-in-exile commented that it was the same old winein a new bottle. He said: "His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been on recordsaying that he would negotiate with the Chinese leadership to resolve the futurestatus of Tibet anywhere, anytime but without preconditions... By demanding thatHis Holiness the Dalai Lama accept that Tibet has been an inalienable part ofChina, President Jiang Zemin is in effect demanding that His Holiness rewritethe history of Tibet. His Holiness can never do this. His Holiness is on recordsaying that stating this would constitute an enormous historical lie and he as aBuddhist monk would have no part in it... However, the fact that the highestChinese leader has publicly commented on the issue of Tibet may be an indicationof the seriousness with which the Chinese leadership takes the Tibetan issue andthis is a welcome first step."

Oct 1997: On 31 October 1997, the US Secretary of State MadeleineAlbright named a top assistant, Gregory B. Craig, as the Special Coordinator forTibet. China criticised the United States’ move, calling it as an"unacceptable" interference in China’s internal affairs. Later,Gregory Craig outlined his mission as the Special Coordinator for Tibet as to"preserve the unique religious, cultural and linguistic heritage of Tibetand to promote a substantive dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama or hisrepresentatives."

Mar 1998: In his official statement on 10 March 1998, His Holiness theDalai Lama said, "I continue to believe that my ‘Middle-Way Approach’is the most realistic and pragmatic course to resolve the issue of Tibetpeacefully. This approach meets the vital needs of the Tibetan people whileensuring the unity and stability of the People’s Republic of China. I will,therefore, continue to pursue this course of approach with full commitment andmake earnest effort to reach out to the Chinese leadership."

Jun 1998: On 27 June 1998, in a joint press conference in Beijing, whichwas telecast live by the China Central Television (CCTV), the US President BillClinton urged the Chinese government to open a dialogue on Tibet with HisHoliness the Dalai Lama. President Clinton said: "I urge President Jiang [Zemin]to assume a dialogue with the Dalai Lama in return for the recognition thatTibet is a part of China and recognition of the unique cultural and religiousheritage of that region." Clinton also said, "I have spent time withthe Dalai Lama, I believe him to be an honest man, and I believe if he had aconversation with President Jiang, they would like each other very much."In response, President Jiang Zemin augmented the positive aspects of China’srule in Tibet. He also said, "As long as the Dalai Lama makes a publiccommitment that Tibet is an inalienable part of China and Taiwan is a provinceof China, then the door to dialogue and negotiation is open... Actually, we arehaving several channels of communications with the Dalai Lama, so I hope theDalai Lama will make a positive response in this regard."

Jun 1998: On 29 June 1998, reacting to the statements of two Presidents,the Tibetan Administration-in-exile said in a statement: "We applaudPresident Bill Clinton for asking the Chinese government to enter into dialogueand negotiation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We also applaud PresidentJiang Zemin for publicly recognising the fact that Tibet is an important issueneeding a solution and for indicating his willingness to have an exchange ofviews and discussion on this." In response to the conditions spelt out byPresident Jiang Zemin, the statement said, "As far as the question ofTibet’s status is concerned, nobody can change the past. However, His Holinessfeels that we should not be encumbered by the past. What is important is thefuture, for which he stated very unequivocally that he is not seekingindependence. Regarding the issue of Taiwan, His Holiness stated during hisMarch 1997 visit to Taiwan that this is a matter, which must be discussed anddecided between China and the people of Taiwan. Confrontation and the use ofmilitary force will help neither China, nor Taiwan."

Sep 1998: On 25 September 1998, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, onthe second day of his official visit to China, delivered the Chinese President amessage from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He urged President Jiang Zemin to meetwith His Holiness the Dalai Lama and said he was prepared to help arrange adialogue if the Chinese leaders were willing. In response, President Jiang Zeminhad reiterated that he was willing to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama if theexile Tibetan leader recognised China’s rule over Tibet. Jiang Zemin wasreported to have said that there was "nothing new" in recent Tibetanproposals, suggesting thereby that the ball was in the Tibetan court.

Oct 1998: On 6 October 1998, British Prime Minister Tony Blair raised theissue of Tibet with his Chinese counterpart Premier Zhu Rongji, during his visitto China. British Prime Minister said that he hoped dialogue withoutpreconditions could begin with the Dalai Lama to find a solution for the futureof Tibet. Zhu Rongji replied that channels of communication were open to theDalai Lama.

Oct 1998: On 26 October 1998, the Chinese government accused His Holinessthe Dalai Lama of being "insincere and of ignoring official channels ofcommunication." The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Tang Guoqiang,said: "The central government’s position on negotiations with the DalaiLama is consistent and clear. That is, the Dalai Lama must give up his proposalof independence for Tibet and stop activities to split the motherland...