China says no progress in talks with Dalai envoys

BEIJING (AFP) — China said Monday that talks with envoys of the Dalai Lama on the future of Tibet had failed to make progress and insisted it would not compromise on the status of the Himalayan region.
Officials said the talks had been candid and the door would remain open for future discussions, but that "serious divergences" remained.
"Our contacts and talks failed to make progress and they (the Dalai Lama's representatives) should assume full responsibility for it," said Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the Communist Party's United Work Front Department.
"In our conversations, we pointed out that the unification of the motherland, territorial integrity and national dignity are the greatest interests of the Chinese people.
"On these fronts, we won't make any concessions, at any time and for anyone," Zhu -- whose department is in charge of contacts with individuals and organisations outside the party -- told reporters.
Envoys of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader who has lived in India for nearly half a century, ended two days of talks Wednesday with Chinese officials in Beijing -- their third round of negotiations this year.
Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Kelsang Gyaltsen and three aides arrived in the Chinese capital on October 30 but only began formal discussions on Tuesday, according to the Tibet government-in-exile in India.
Zhu said that "though there existed serious divergences of views in this talk, the atmosphere in general was candid."
The Dalai Lama has sought "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet since he fled his homeland following a failed uprising in 1959 against Chinese rule, nine years after Chinese troops invaded the region.
China claims he actually seeks full independence -- a "separatist" action which it opposes.
Tensions came to a head on March 14 this year when violence erupted in the Tibetan capital Lhasa against Chinese rule, before spreading to other areas of western China with Tibetan populations.
Tibet's government-in-exile said more than 200 Tibetans were killed and about 1,000 hurt in a subsequent Chinese crackdown, but China reported police killing one "insurgent" and blamed Tibetan "rioters" for 21 deaths.
During the visit last week, the envoys were taken to the Muslim autonomous region of Ningxia by Chinese authorities to demonstrate Beijing's handling of minority concerns.
Zhu said the talks had centred mostly on the Dalai Lama and his policies.
"We merely talked about how the Dalai Lama should completely give up his splittist opinions and actions and strive for the understanding of the central authorities and all Chinese people so as to solve the issue concerning his own prospects," he said.
But even before talks started, the Dalai Lama said earlier this month that his drive for greater autonomy had ended in failure, and urged Tibetans to be open to all options in negotiations with Beijing over the region's future.
He has called a meeting among Tibetans for later this month to decide on a future strategy toward the Chinese government -- with some suggesting a shift to demanding full independence could be adopted.
Sita, an ethnic Tibetan vice minister of the United Front Work department, insisted Monday that "the door for contacts and talks is always open."
However, he added the "door for independence" was closed, in response to a question on whether the possibility of further talks was discussed.
"What he (the Dalai Lama) can do includes... stopping separatist activities, openly recognising Tibet as part of China and openly recognising that Taiwan is part of China," Zhu added.
"On such a basis, we will continue to conduct contacts and talks with him."