MFA CITES DALAI LAMA AS PUSHING FOR EXPULSION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 020899 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2031 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF CH SUBJECT: MFA CITES DALAI LAMA AS PUSHING FOR EXPULSION OF NON-TIBETANS AND PLA FROM "GREATER TIBET" REF: BEIJING 16434 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David S. Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) MFA Director General for North America and Oceania Affairs Liu Jieyi objected to the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama during an informal discussion with the CDA on September 28. China views the award as a move that will "only encourage Tibet independence activists," DG Liu said. The Charge reiterated the United States position on Tibet and the Dalai Lama, stating that the United States recognizes Tibet as a part of China. He emphasized that in the United States the Dalai Lama is viewed as a revered religious leader. ¶2. (C) DG Liu responded that the Dalai Lama, in "private channel discussions" between his representatives and the Chinese Government, has sought the expulsion from Tibet and Tibetan areas of all those who are not ethnically Tibetan and of all People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces. DG Liu accused the Dalai Lama and his supporters of effectively advocating splitting Tibet from China and the creation of an independent state. Note: In a previous representation on this subject (reftel),Liu referred to the Dalai Lama's call for withdrawal of the Central Government from Tibetan areas, but did not specifically mention the PLA. End note. ¶3. (C) The Charge stated that the United States is unaware of any calls by the Dalai Lama for expulsions of other ethnicities from Tibet. He rejected DG Liu's contention that the Dalai Lama is seeking independence, pointing to the Dalai Lama's public statements to the contrary. The United States encourages continued dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama's representatives in order to resolve differences, the Charge concluded. SEDNEY