'Dalai's autonomy demand is disguised form of independence'

China considers the Dalai Lama's "middle way" policy of demanding greater autonomy for Tibet amounted to independence in a "disguised form" for his Himalayan homeland, an official think-tank said here today.
"Dalai Lama's political doctrine is that he no longer insisted on the 'independence' of Tibet, but at the same time he didn't recognise the central government's requirements on him. Instead, he wanted to find a "middle way," said Yang Minghong, a professor at the Centre for Tibetan Studies of Sichuan University.
"The political doctrine is that he no longer insisted on the "independence" of Tibet, but at the same time he didn't recognise the central government's requirements on him. Instead, he wanted to find a "middle way," Yang said.

"China's central government believes that the Dalai Lama's "middle way" policy, in essence, is still seeking the "independence" of Tibet but in a disguised form," Yang wrote in an article in Global Times criticising the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) 15th General Body meeting held in Dharmasala last month.
This is the first official write up on Tibet and the Dalai Lama's demand after the new leadership headed by President Xi Jinping took over power in March this year.
Expectations are high that China may restore talks with the emissaries of Tibetan spiritual leaders to halt the recurring self immolations, which crossed 100 recently.

The TYC is the largest "pro-independence" group in exile promised to follow the Dalai Lama's guidance of the conciliatory "middle way" policy.

Accusing the TYC of instigating over 100 self immolations, Yang said members of the TYC were born abroad and have received Western education.
"They have rarely been to Tibetan areas and know little about the history and current situation there. Living in the secular society, they are not as devoted to religion as their ancestors and are greatly influenced by the theory inculcated by the Dalai Lama," he said.
"Once they accepted the Dalai's propaganda that 'Tibet is an independent country', they would firmly try to restore a 'Tibetan country'," he said.