China’s Dialogue with the Dalai Lama 1978-90: Prenegotiation Stage of Dead End?
Author(s)
Norbu, Dawa
Abstract
Perhaps the most significant political development in the post-1959 Sino-Tibetan politics is the dialogue that Deng Xiaoping initiated with the Dalai Lama in December, 1978. This paper attempts to analyze the substance and spirit of the twelve-year-long Beijing-Dalai Lama talks. Two exploratory talks were held in Beijing in 1982 and 1984 which indicated that the Chinese leaders were not willing to accede to any of the Tibetan political demands including the “one country-two systems” formula. This compelled the Dalai Lama to make his demands public in Washington and Strasbourg. China rejected these demands in early 1990. During the talks at various levels, both sides indicated their respective parameters of negotiation, identified major issues for future agendas and revealed their differences over critical issue-areas which would have to be minimized if a mutually acceptable settlement is to be reached. What the Sino-Tibetan dialogue suggests is that negotiation requires not only a bilateral willingness to compromise on conflicting interests but also willingness of the two negotiating powers to enforce any compromise solutions to the conflicting interests. This article concludes that Beijing does not feel compelled either internally or externally to negotiate with the Dalai Lama, except under its own terms and conditions.
