A Chronology Of The Middle Way Approach

The Peopleʼs Liberation Army of China invades and starts to assume control of Tibet.

With resistance taking place in various parts of Tibet in the late 1950s, a National Uprising also breaks out in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in March 1959. Chinese forces crush the uprising, leading to the deaths of 87,000 Tibetans in seven months. Fleeing the Chinese occupation of Tibet, approximately 80,000 Tibetans follow His Holiness the Dalai Lama across the Himalayas and into exile in India, Nepal and Bhutan.

After 15 years in exile, and taking into consideration the gravity of the situation inside Tibet and the need to alleviate the suff ering of Tibetans, His Holiness the Dalai Lama envisions a win-win proposition to solve the issue of Tibet. He holds a series of discussions with the Kashag (CTA/Tibetan cabinet members), leaders of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), and trusted friends of Tibet. An internal decision is taken to pursue a policy of autonomy‒ the “Middle Way” ‒ rather than separation from the Peopleʼs Republic of China (PRC). This policy comes to be known as the Middle Way Approach. (Tibetan: “Umaylam”)

China accepts four fact-fi nding delegations to Tibet, in August 1979, May 1980, June 1980 and June 1985. The delegations are enthusiastically received by local Tibetans. They visit various parts of Tibet, including Lhasa, Shigatse, Lhokha, Kongpo Nyingtri, Sakya, Lhuntse, Tsona, Tsethang, Gyangtse, Choekhorgyal, Sangagchoeling and Yartok Nakartse in U-Tsang; Kanlho, Siling, Golok, Malho, Ngaba and Zoege in Amdo; Nagchu, Chamdo, Dege, Kardze, Nyarong, Gyalthang and Markham in Kham. In 1982 and 1984, Chinese leaders meet exploratory delegations from Dharamshala for talks in Beijing. Following the 1985 fact-finding delegation, China refuses to receive further missions. No reason is given.

In 1987, a large-scale peaceful street protest which breaks out in Lhasa is brutally suppressed by Chinese forces. A new wave of repression and arrests ensues. Following continued peaceful protests, China declares martial law in Lhasa in March 1989.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy for a peaceful solution to the issue of Tibet based upon an approach of tolerance and mutual respect.

With Beijing failing to reciprocate the numerous diplomatic initiatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 14 years of formal contact with the Chinese government come to an end. The next year, 1994, Beijing holds the third “Tibet Work Forum” during which it adopts a hard-line policy on Tibet. This marks a significant shift from the more open approach of earlier forums.

In September 1997, based on the preliminary opinion survey and reflecting the Tibetan people‟s profound trust in His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the TPiE adopts a unanimous resolution stating that he should, in the future, be the sole person to take decisions on Sino-Tibetan issues. The TPiE further resolves that whatever decisions His Holiness the Dalai Lama takes will be regarded by all the Tibetan people as being the equivalent to a decision reached through a referendum.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses the plenary session of the European Parliament, urging the resumption of dialogue.

During the first half of 2008, unprecedented and widespread protests break out across Tibet. At the 7th round of talks with the Chinese government in July 2008, Chinese negotiators ask the Tibetan leadership to put in writing the nature of the autonomy it seeks. The Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People is presented during the 8th round of talks in October-November that year. The Memorandum elaborates how genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people would operate within the framework of the PRC constitution and Law on National Regional Autonomy – defines areas such as the “application of a single administration for the Tibetan nationality in the People‟s Republic of China”, the “nature and structure of autonomy” and the “11 Basic Needs of Tibetans”. The Chinese leadership rejects the proposal, falsely claiming that the Memorandum includes references to a “Greater Tibet”, “Higher Degree of Autonomy,” “covert independence” and “independence in disguise”.

To address the Chinese government‟s concerns about and objections to the Memorandum, the Tibetan leadership presents a Note on the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People during the 9th round of talks. The Memorandum and the Note describe how a genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people would operate within the framework of the People‟s Republic of China: its constitution, territorial integrity and sovereignty, its „three adherences‟1 and the hierarchy and authority of the Chinese Central Government (CCG). The Note further addresses specific concerns raised by the Chinese government with respect to the form of single administration; political, social and economic systems; public security; regulation of population migration; language; and religion. The Chinese government once again refuses to accept the proposal.

So far, 157 self-immolations have taken place inside Tibet since 2009. Dialogue between envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership remains stalled. Meanwhile, many governments – including the U.S., European Union, France, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand – hail the dialogue process as a viable and reasonable way forward. Despite worsening conditions inside Tibet and self-immolations now numbering more than 130 people, the Tibetan people‟s commitment to the Middle Way Approach is unwavering. They are buoyed in their faith in the policy by growing support from the international community, including the many Chinese who believe in peace and justice.