On Dec.12, 2011, Zhu Weiqun, Executive Vice Minister of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee, had dinner and discussion sessions with representatives in Brussels, where the China Office to the EU Mission is based, the representatives include chief executive officials of  the Chinese Department of European External Action Service, senior researchers of  the Institute of Contemporary China Studies in Brussels, researchers of  the Eurasia Center, Professors of  the College of Europe, journalists of  New Europe, journalists of EU Observer, editors of  the magazine Parliament, students of  the College of Europe, and assistants of members of the  European Parliament (from People’s Party and Conservative Reform Party respectively).

During the meeting, Zhu Weiqun briefed them the current situation in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, and answered questions concerning the Dalai Lama issue, human rights in Tibet, “the self-immolation incidents”, engagement and discussions, etc. The main contents are as follows:

Zhu Weiqun: First, I will brief you the basic situation of China’s Tibet, and then I would like to answer your questions.

This year marks the 60th Anniversary of Tibet’s Peaceful Liberation. During the past 60 years, the Chinese government has done a lot to Tibet, in general three good deeds.

The first one refers to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in 1951. Since then, there will be no way for any forces to try to split Tibet from China. Tibet’s Peaceful Liberation is a great progress of human rights, for China’s national sovereignty, regarded as the basis for human rights, has been guaranteed.

The history has clearly indicated that human rights in Tibet can never be possible with imperialist aggression and humiliation.

The second one refers to the suppression of the armed rebellion launched by the minority of the ruling class led by the 14th Dalai Lama.

The Democratic Reform has abolished the theocratic feudal serfdom which has already existed for hundreds of years. Since then,Tibet has stepped into a new socialist society, just like the other parts of the country. And what’s more, it has been rest assured that the old feudal serfdom system can never be restored.

Millions of serfs and slaves have gained human rights through the Democratic Reform, which marks an important and event with a far-reaching influence in the world history of human rights.

The third one refers to the establishment of the System of Regional Ethnic Autonomy, which led to a rapid economic and social development in half a century. What’s more, it has also protected and improved every aspect of the human rights undertakings.

I’ve been to Tibet on business trips for 40 five including five times this year. And I see changes there each time, such as people’s living standard has improved and democratic rights are guaranteed. Here I cite some basic numbers for you. Though the numbers are boring, they indicate the achievements made through the joint efforts by the Chinese central government and the Tibetan people. 

During the 11th Five-Year Plan period (from 2006 to 2010), the Chinese government pumped a total construction fund of 137.8 billion yuan to support the development of the Tibet Autonomous Region. In the “12th Five-Year Plan” period (from 2011 to 2015), the overall investment is  planed to amount to 330 billion yuan, more than double the figure of  the previous five years.

In 2011, Tibet’s gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to reach 60.5 billion yuan, a 12.6 percent increase over that of last year, keeping a double-digital growth rate in 19 consecutive years. The average disposable income of urban residents is estimated to reach 16,148 yuan, up by 7.8 percent that of 2010.

We are always concerned about famers and herders, because they living in most harsh conditions. Data indicate that the per capita net income of Tibetan farmers and herders will reach 4,700 yuan increased by 13.6 percent with a double-digital growth rate over the past nine years.

An important meeting was held recently in China, and the poverty-relief criterion (average per capita income) has been raised to 2,300 yuan from the previous 1,196 yuan. Of course, this has given a challenge to our next step in poverty-relief development, but it is a must. The criterion of 2,300 yuan, if calculated, is equivalent to the per capita income of one dollar per day, higher than the generally adopted international standard. Therefore, based on the per capita net income of 2011, the living standard of the Tibetan farmers and herders has generally gone well above the poverty line.

Besides, Tibet also witnesses a booming development in education and health. There is another number to prove this: the average expectancy of Tibetan people has increased to 69 years old from only 35.5 years old in 1951 when Tibet was just peacefully liberated. The overall population in Tibet has increased from one million to three million. But one point needs to be stressed: it is definitely not true as someone said the increase of population of Tibet is resulted from migration of inland Chinese. The Tibetan population has taken up above 92 percent in each of our census, including the most recent one.

It is a basic policy in China to respect and protect citizens’ freedom of religious belief. At present, there are 1,780 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, which is to say, about one monastery for every 1,600 people. There are 46,000 monks and nuns in all, taking up 1.5 percent of the overall population. I have no idea about how many people on average share a church or what the demographic percentage of clergymen in the total population is in Europe. Of course, the number is much lower than that in the Dalai Lama’s ruling period. At that time, there were 100,000 monks and nuns out of a mere population of one million. But let’s think about it: would there be any hope of social progress for such a society?

At present, China and the EU have a friendly relationship and both sides have built up an all-around strategic partnership through multi-level dialogues and cooperative mechanism covering areas in economy, technology and humanity. The cooperation has benefited both sides and even the whole world, especially under the context of international financial crisis and the EU’s debt crisis. Strengthened connections and mutual support are urgently needed for both to overcome difficulties together for a win-win situation.

When cooperation between both sides becomes increasingly important, however, I feel puzzled at persistent reasonless accusations over China from the EU. On the contrary, in my memory, Chinese people have never criticized EU’s internal affairs at any time. A recent example is that some minorities in the European Parliament, regardless of China’s interests, insisted on inviting the new head of the Dalai clique’s “government-in-exile” to Brussels and held high-profile meeting with him. They also invited him to give a speech in the name of "prime minister of the Tibetan Administration Center” to the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU, disseminating the so-called "Tibet Independence".

Such activities are extremely ridiculous, running counter to both the EU’s promise to China and the general norms in international relations. If the EU has recognized that Tibet is a part of China, the EU has no right to invite such a separatist and head of the rebellious clique. I hope all of you here to play your part in preventing such terrible incidents from happening again in future given your relationship you cherish so much between China and the EU.

I used to be a journalist with the People’s Daily and I like to ask tough questions. Today, you are also welcomed to raise tough questions to me. I hope it won’t affect your appetite today that I just mentioned the new head of the Dalai clique’s “government-in-exile”. 

The EU: I am an official with the European Eternal Action Service (EEAS). Your visit to Brussels and the questions you have raised are quite important. We are glad to hear that Tibet has made remarkable achievements. And I want to remind that you know clearly how much the EU values human rights as well as protection of traditional culture. That’s why we are concerned about the human rights and cultural protection situation whether inside or outside the European Union.

We have paid attention to the recent self-immolations of the monks. From the perspective of the EU, the incidents showed extreme desperation of some Tibetans over their culture preservation. I want to point out that the EU does not recognize the legitimacy of the guy as Kalon Tripa of the “government-in-exile”. But he was only invited by the publicly elected and independent parliament members, rather than the European Union.

Zhu Weiqun:To develop China’s human rights, we need to make more efforts and we hope that there are more friends to help us.However, what I want to say is that the Chinese government care more about its people, with Tibetan people included, than any other government in the world.

Why did the Chinese Communist Party start a revolution then?

It was because that one task of this revolution is to fight against the invasion of imperialism forces, including some European countries, to China.Not too long ago, some European countries had launched two wars to invade China’s Tibet.In a war in 1904, with modern arms, which is a symbol of civilization, these invaders killed more than 600 Tibetans in a valley at one time.

At that time, have any of you talked about human rights for Tibetan common people?

Besides, in 1951, some countries in the west backed the local Tibetan government with guns to revolt against the peaceful liberation by the central government. What’s more, in 1959, they directly incited and backed up the Dalai clique to rebel, with not only so-called "moral support”, but also direct arms airdropping and agents training.

During that time, have any of you talked about human rights for China’s Tibetans?

What we have done, including emancipating millions of serfs in Tibet, developing Tibet economy, improving common Tibetan’s life standard, insuring the freedom of religion belief, as well as reserving and expanding Tibetan culture, etc, these are all for Tibetans’ human rights. However, how many favors have you westerners done for that?

You westerners can count it by yourselves!

As far as I can see, some Europeans care more about the privileges which some few feudal serf owners, represented by the 14th Dalai Lama, have lost and the supreme powers that the 14th Dalai has lost in politic, economy and religion.

I’m sorry that I have no enough time to list some western countries’ terrible and ignominious “human rights records” today. Now, I’d like to talk about the self-immolations that you are concerned about.

A chain of self-immolations have happened at four monasteries in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province (rather than Tibet) since March this year. Those who set themselves on fire are in their twenties and the youngest is only 16 years old. I was shocked by those incidents and feel sorrowful for those young lives engulfed in flames.

When I went to those temples for a field survey not long ago, the local monks and residents expressed indignation at those who had provoked those incidents.

The incidents of self-immolation occurred in only four temples, but there are 3,542 temples in Tibet and other Tibetan areas, with over 140, 000 monks and nuns in total. Therefore, what the Dalai clique described that all the Tibetan areas were burning up is not true at all. The vast majority of temples and monks were did not get involved in this matter, instead, they condemned it. The Dalai clique also mentioned that Tibetan people are living in misery. In my view, however, the only person in a tragic situation is the Dalai Lama himself.

Self-immolations occurred in four of the 3,542 temples with most incidents happened in one temple, the Kirti Monastery in Aba county of Sichuan Province. Why? The Kirti living Buddha used to follow the Dalai Lama and launch the armed rebellion in 1959. After it failed, he fled abroad and served as the "security minister" of the Dalai clique's "government in exile", which, as we know, is a department for making bloodshed, destruction and sabotage.

The first self-immolation happened on March 16, and the monk who burned himself to death was only 19 years old. The other three monks who instigated him were arrested. They confessed in court that they had been incited by the separatist forces. When the self-immolation happened, they not only stood aside but also prevented our cadres from helping the injured. They filmed the self-immolation, and sent it to Dharamsala quickly.

As it was reported, continuous self-immolation incidents occurred. The Dalai clique dubbed the monks and nuns who burned themselves as “heroes” and “fighters”, expressed their admiration, suggested to "award" them, and wanted to erect monuments for them.The Dalai Lama even held a religious ceremony and led a fasting in Dharamsala. He praised those victims for their "courage" and encourages more people to go down toward this dead end.

I noticed that some western media, including Reuters, the French international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle and so on, who barely agreed with us, pointed out the Dalai Lama did nothing to stop the self-immolations but encouraging them.

What’s even worse is that in the articles published by the "Dalai Lama Tibet Religious Foundation" in Taiwan, the self-immolations were regarded as "Buddha practice", and they declared that those who burned themselves to death would be reincarnated into Buddha immediately. They forgot that Tibetan Buddhism is a religion of compassion, which values life .

It is shown that the self-immolations are caused by the long-term brainwashing of those monks by the Dalai clique, who are locked in the temples and lack of basic modern education. The reason for these tragedies is that the Dalai Lama wants to transform the Tibetan Buddhism into a religion of suicide to serve for his own political purposes.

You said that the self-immolations are caused by our destruction of Tibetan culture and religion, but could you give me the evidence? How did we damage the Tibetan culture and religion? I could give you numerous cases for our protection and development of Tibetan culture and religion. Could you give me examples of the so-called destruction?

Will the Chinese government change policies in Tibet and the attitude toward the Dalai clique only because we are attacked by some people about the incident of the self-immolation?

I suggest that everyone have a review about the history: in 1951 the upper class of Tibet fought against the People’s Liberation Army in Chamdo to prevent Tibet’s liberation although they failed; in 1959 the Dalai Lama were able to launch an elaborately planned armed rebellion in Tibet; in 1960s they had no ability to launch real wars with us, but they were still able to harass our border while living overseas; later they found it difficult to make military activities and their military base was destroyed by the Nepal, whereas in 1980s they could still stirred up riots in Lhasa, which had lasted for three years; in 2008 they made a desperate attempt by making the March 14 riots in Lhasa which were appeased by us soon.

Now the clique can only cheat a few innocent young men to burn themselves to death in order to impose pressure on the Chinese government. There is a Chinese saying goes that "weasels give birth to rats", which means that one generation is inferior to the last. Will a political group last long when they make a living by inducting their fellows to burn themselves? In this case some people from the EU still connect their own fate to that of the Dalai Lama, which is so unwise. Whether to cheat another few for self-immolation or not has different voices inside the Dalai clique because some believe that such a scheme can’t go on. Today I can frankly tell every friend that the Chinese government will not change work policies in Tibet and the attitude toward the Dalai clique even if such cases happen again.

You just mentioned that some members of the parliament of EU invited the new head of the “Tibetan-government in exile”. I clearly know about the inner structure of the EU and I also know that a few people from the parliament can’t stand up for the whole EU. However, as an international organization, shouldn’t the EU keep its members in bounds when the merciless members are harming the interests of other countries as well as that of EU? If not able to constrain their behaviors, can’t EU at least criticize them? It is not a good thing for the EU’s prestige if showing sympathy to those who violate the interest of the Chinese people by committing brutal actions or offering them platforms.

I have heard too many of the excuses that you have said before: when something have been done to harm the interest of the Chinese people, some would say that should attribute to the parliament, non-governmental organizations or somebody’s private behavior, which seems as if it is not the government who manages the land. Some people often criticize our Chinese government that we lack democracy and human rights, but we know about a fundamental principle that we can’t allow some people to harm the interest of other friendly countries in the land of China. A responsible government should hold the attitude that never accusing others when knowing little about the facts.

The EU: In my impression, your visit aims to discuss "Tibet issue" with us frankly and sincerely. If so, will China allow the EU to send an independent diplomatic team to Tibet to check your description?

Zhu Weiqun: That's a serious issue. China is an independent country and has the ability to safeguard its sovereignty and interest. We never allow foreign forces to interfere in China's internal affairs by any means.

I never believe it can settle any problem or bring good to its people for foreign forces to interfere in the internal affairs of another country. On the contrary, it will intensify the contradiction and even lead to wars.

China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs, or requires other peoples to do so. Likewise, we will never allow any other country to interfere in our own internal affairs. No one can allow you.

You can criticize us or give us advices, but we will not give the right of handling internal affairs to any foreign organization or government.Of course, if foreign officials, journalists or scholars want to visit Tibet and broaden their knowledge of the Tibetan ethnic group and Tibetan culture as individuals. They are all welcome.

Tibet has never closed its door to the outside world. Last year, Tibet hosted a total of about 6.85 million tourists, including about 228,000 international tourists. This year, the number of tourists rose to about 7.5 million with a drastic increase of tourists from overseas.

The EU: Will you interfere if we move around and have interviews in Tibet?

Zhu Weiqun: It appears that you have never been to Tibet. There is no interference in one's interview. But honestly speaking, Tibet is a border region and it's the international practice that one must obey related rules in some border areas or military restricted zones.

The EU: You hope that the EU should restrict the activities of some of its members. In your opinion, what measures should we take?

Zhu Weiqun: It's your internal affairs. I will never impose my idea on others. As a Chinese saying goes, "don't impose on others what you yourself do not desire".

I can only suggest that the EU try to persuade someone who speaks indiscreetly and groundlessly. One should learn more of Tibet's real situation and then speak discreetly.

One shouldn't hurt the interest of a country with a population of 1.3 billion and fast economic growth. Making the Chinese uncomfortable will result in serious consequences.

Of course, it's indeed not a big deal if someone doesn't like to take my advice and continues to denounce and attack us.

In my opinion, if there are some contradictory voices by the ear, it may be a good way for an individual or a country to enhance its vigilance and strengthen its self-resistance capability.

The EU: According to your experience of conducting several meetings with the envoys of the Dalai Lama, would you please tell us the latest development and future movement?

Zhu Weiqun: China's central government has arranged 10 rounds of talks with the private representatives of the Dalai Lama since 2002. Yet no results have been achieved by far.

The Chinese central government and representatives of the Dalai Lama had "sharply divergent" views. There are two basic reasons: The first lies in that the Dalai Clique declares that this is a talk between the “two separate governments” -"Tibet government-in-exile” and China’s central government.

It is acknowledged that the “Tibet government-in-exile” is illegal, it is only a continuation of rebel groups. Therefore, the talk we will consider is only that between the Chinese central government and the private envoys of the Dalai Lama. However, the interference of the new boss of the “exiled government” makes it even more difficult to rearrange such talks.

Secondly, the two parties disagree on the contents of the talks. We firmly hold the position that the Dalai Lama should first comply with the central government in terms of the following basic principles. For example, Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Dalai Lama should cease his separatist activities before we would continue to discuss about his future.

However, the so-called issues of “Tibet’s political status”, "Greater Tibet" and "High degree of autonomy" raised by the Dalai Lama ask only for the whole Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with 25-million hectares under the control of his clique. This is out of the question.

After his selfish request was refused, he stopped the talk twice in 1993 and 2008. Even though, the central government did not give up the talks and wanted to "give the Dalai Lama a chance to correct his mistakes".

Recently, Dalai Lama claimed that what needed to be discussed were not his own future , but the “future of the six million Tibetans”, and "the position of Tibet”. In terms of these two problems, the central government has already settled with no possibility of changes in its position.

Dalai’s rigid and arrogant attitude creates obstacles to contact and talks. How did the Dalai Lama come out with such ridiculous demand without any power to compete with the central government? I assume that he owns the support of some western countries.

I suggest those western countries would persuade this 77-year-old old man to abandon his unrealistic ambition and restart talking with the central government about his future. Or else, he will end up with a poor ending. The EU: Many Europeans hold opinions towards Chairman Ashton, so what do you think about the EU leaders? In addition, what do you think about the “Tibet Issue” and “Taiwan Question”? Are there any common points and differences between them?

Zhu Weiqun: I didn’t pay much attention to the EU leaders, nor would I judge them. The judgment should be made by EU countries and people from all countries.

If you want to compare Tibet with Taiwan, there is indeed a common point: both of them are inalienable parts of China. The difference is that the unification with Taiwan hasn’t been realized, and we tend to unify Taiwan with the policy of “one country, two systems”.

Tibet, however, was and is a region under China’s sovereignty with national autonomy. China practices the same administration policies in Tibet as those in other provinces. The central government did offer some more preferential polices in Tibet, as its economy lags far behind than that of other regions.

Therefore, the “Tibet issue” never exists. The socialist system has been established in Tibet for over half a century. We will give full play to the system so that more Tibetans can benefit from it and lead a relatively comfortable life.

The EU: your name is widely known in China, what do you think about Tibetan people’s feelings when your name is mentioned? Are they going to be happy or scared?

Zhu Weiqun: My name is not so well-known in China, for there are many more capable cadres in China. I was given the job to handle the Dalai Lama issue due to being less capable.

I have many friends in Tibet, including top Tibetan leaders, ordinary Tibetan farmers and herders, and Tibetan seniors. I hold no doubt that Tibetans are satisfied with my work, as I have always received heartfelt welcome wherever I arrived in Tibet. I also have no doubt that some people, especially those in the Dalai Lama clique hate my guts. Nevertheless, I feel it is honored to be hated by the splitting forces which engage in sabotaging Tibet’s stability. And it may be the greatest achievement in my life. If the Dalai Lama and his followers, including those who incited self-immolations like me, it would mean I did something wrong.

The EU: As a Chinese European who has lived in Europe for dozens of years, I don’t think the Chinese Communist Party has given a positive impression to Europeans. Due to the Cold War, they always hold negative judgment about the Communist Party as well as communism, especially after years of Tibetan exiles’ propaganda. It is indeed an arduous task for you to let more Europeans hear China’s real voice.

A journalist just said that an independent investigation team should be sent to Tibet, which is coincided with most Europeans’ thought about Tibet. They hold suspicious attitude towards leaders elected and sent by the Chinese Communist Party.

Therefore, I think the Chinese Delegation to other countries should bring some of Tibetans with you to tell us what has happened in Tibet right now. Their words would be more convincible and understandable for Europeans.

Zhu Weiqun: In the recent years, we have organized Tibetan scholars, government officials, and religious leaders for many international visits. However, when they told the truth about Tibet, they were still questioned and opposed by some Europeans.

At the same time, no matter which ethnic group we belong to, the national unity is our highest priority. Though there are no ethnic Tibetans in my team, we still represent the whole nation’s interest. As the Executive Vice Minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, I not only represent the Han nationality, but also the 56 ethnic groups in China to protect my country’s interest.

I agree with your suggestions, and we will invite more Tibetan friends for international communications in the future.

I want to tell you that one of the Vice Ministers of the United Front Work Department of the CPC, Sita is a Tibetan and my Tibetan colleagues account for one third of our team on Tibetan affairs.

At present, I am aware that the western media seem to support the Dalai Lama more than us. There are many reasons: at first, I admit that there are few opportunities for us to tell the real Tibet to the western society.

The other reason, which you have already mentioned is that the ideology reflected in western media doesn’t accept the success of Chinese Communist Party and doesn’t want to see the rapid development achieved in China’s socialist system.

Due to the stereotypes, some people are more prone to believe the Dalai Lama, but not us. I can not change the way people think, but the peaceful development in Tibet can prove everything. I believe time is on our side.

I would like to hear the two young students’ opinions, for maybe in a few years you are the ones to settle the China-Europe affairs.

The EU: The reason why the Dalai Lama can be successful in Europe is that his language can be understood by Europeans. On the contrary, the words from the Chinese government seem not believable to you.

China needs to learn how to use the European language and methods to express their ideas; while as for the Europeans, we also need to abandon the prejudices with an open mind.

Zhu Weiqun: Your suggestion is very good, showing young people's perception towards the world affairs.

In my opinion, during the last decades after the Dalai Lama fled out of China in 1959, he devoted much of his time and energy to learning western ways of thinking and socializing with the help of his western teachers.

But in fact, there is one more fundamental reason-the political force behind the Dalai Lama.

Every year, he is supported by the annual financial allocation from some countries, charity funding and money collected through public meetings and mass prayers.

According to their own material released by the Dalai clique, more than 90 percent of its expenses come from some western countries.
The principle of determining a person first would see what contributions he or she has made. As for the Dalai Lama, what has he contributed to Tibet? Compared with the endeavor of the China government, what has he brought to the Tibetan people?

The best method to resolve differences is resorting to the facts when observing the same problem with different backgrounds and perceptions.

One who does not respect the fact may be successful at present, but in a long run, he will lose.

As I sit on the host position today, my remarks may seem too strong. It doesn’t matter if you believe or not, but we welcome each one of you to Tibet and make your own judgments with your own eyes.