22. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent discussions he has had with China on the future of Tibet. [145056]
§ Mr. BattleWe regularly discuss the future of Tibet with the Chinese authorities and urge them to engage in a meaningful dialog re with the Tibetan people, including the Dalai Lama, on a long-term political solution. During the last round of our bilateral human rights dialogue with China, held in London between 16 and 18 October, the Chinese side briefed us on the resumed contacts with representatives of the Dalai Lama. We welcomed this development and regent indications that the dialogue was continuing to take place. We will continue to press the Chinese authorities to advance the dialogue to a satisfactory conclusion.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the(a) extent of and (b) implications of migration of Han Chinese into Tibet. [146720]
§ Mr. BattleWe are monitoring the extent and causes of Han migration into Tibet. We addressed the issue during the last round of the UK/China human rights dialogue held in London between 16–18 October. We stressed the importance of ensuring that indigenous Tibetans benefit from the economic development driving the migration, and the need to preserve and promote Tibetan cultural, traditional and religious practices.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to recognise the Tibet in Government in exile if the Chinese authorities continue to refuse to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. [146715]
§ Mr. BattleWe do not recognise the Tibetan "Government in Exile", nor do we have any plans to revise this position.
We welcome recent indications that the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama have resumed a dialogue. We will continue to stress to the Chinese the importance this Government places on the two sides reaching agreement on a long-term political solution in Tibet.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Tibet. [146718]
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§ Mr. BattleThe human rights situation in Tibet remains a matter of deep concern Restrictions on the freedoms of religion, expression and association, the harsh treatment of dissidents and the erosion of Tibetan culture and traditional practices continue. We have welcomed the re-establishment of contacts between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama since mid-2000, and hope that these will go on to address these important issues.
Tibet remains a major focus of our critical engagement with the Chinese authorities, at ministerial level and through the regular UK/China human rights dialogues. We will continue to press for a long-term political solution in Tibet between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama, and the full respect for human rights in Tibet.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the impact of current Chinese policy on the culture and historic environment of Tibet. [146748]
§ Mr. BattleWe continue monitoring the effects of Chinese policy towards the cultural heritage and traditional practices in Tibet. Of particular concern is the "re-education" programme of Buddhist monks and nuns, restrictions on freedom of religion and the handling of Han migration into Tibet. We raise these and other issues relating to Tibet, in detail during our regular UK/China human rights dialogues.
With EU partners, we supported a demarche by the French ambassador in Beijing in August 2000, expressing concern at the expulsion of representatives of the Tibet heritage fund, which works to preserve religious sites in Lhasa.
We will continue to press the Chinese to work towards maintaining the unique culture and heritage of Tibet. We will do so again during the next dialogue round in Beijing between 12–14 February.