TOKYO: The Tibetan political leader Dr Lobsang Sangay urged the Japanese government to support the Middle Way Approach of the Tibetan people towards seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet as it does not contradict China’s sovereignty and is a win-win solution for Tibetans and Chinese.

“We are seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet through non-violence and Chinese government can’t say no to this. During their meetings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, former US Presidents Barack Obama have expressed their strong and consistent support for the Middle Way Approach as it does not contradict China’s sovereignty and One China Policy. Your support is not for the 6 million Tibetans but it is a support for justice, human rights and environment of Tibet,” Sikyong said during a public talk on the way forward to resolve the problem of Tibet in Tokyo. Around 300 people including writers, journalists and Tibetan supporters attended the talk.

Responding from question from Kyodo news agency, Sikyong said, “We also hope President Trump will continue the past tradition of US presidents meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, support the Middle Way Approach and human rights of the Tibetan people,” said Sikyong. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he will continue to encourage dialogue between Beijing and representatives of the Dalai Lama or Tibetan “government in exile”. I will also encourage Beijing and the governments of all nations to respect and preserve the distinct religious, linguistic, and cultural identity of the Tibetan people worldwide.

Sikyong said to understand China, one must understand Tibet. “China is everywhere in Asia. All these happened because people did not paid attention to what happened in Tibet 60 years ago. Had Tibet was supported by the International community by all the Asian Buddhist countries, then we could have put a wall to China to move forward. When China occupied Tibet, many Asian countries or the international community supported us, then it kept expanding its influence to South East Asia and Senkaku island in east China sea,” Sikyong said.

Underlining the importance of Tibet’s natural environment, Sikyong said Tibet is considered as the water tower of Asia as 10 major rivers of Asia originate from the Tibetan plateau. Besides Antarctic and Arctic, Tibet has the largest reserve of ice. When ice in Antarctic and Arctic melts it flows into ocean, but when the ice in Tibet melts it forms rivers which becomes lifeline for more than a billion people in neighbouring Asian countries like China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Sikyong said His Holiness the Dalai Lama assured us that he will live up to 100 years and when he visits Japan this year, you will see him healthy and robust. He has outlived many Chinese communist leaders. Tibet is a land of Chenresig, the Buddha of Compassion, Tibet cannot be separated from the Dalai Lama.

There over 300-400 million Buddhists in China and thousands of Chinese come to Dharamsala in India to meet and listen to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Few thousands came to Kalachakra teaching in Bodh Gaya. So there is no problem between Chinese and Tibetan people. The problem of Tibet is not Chinese people, but the Chinese government’s hardline policy.

Earlier in the morning, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay visited the Office of Tibet and addressed members of the Tibetan community.

Sikyong explained that in the short, mid and long term interest of Tibet, the present Kashag has envisioned 5/50 policy in its effort to preserve the identity of the Tibetan people and restore freedom and dignity of the Tibetans. In order to realise our goal, we need to preserve our unique language, culture and religion. To keep alive our identity, we should have a sound knowledge of our religion, language and culture. As long as Tibetans remain, Tibet and our cause will remain alive.

Underlining that Tibetans in exile have the sacred duty to realise the Middle Way Approach, Sikyong said the Central Tibetan Administration, in the five years. will focus its effort towards resuming dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representative and the Chinese government to end the ongoing political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalisation and environmental destruction.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Japan-