Seventh question: Who is creating ethnic hatred and separation?

During the 50th anniversary gathering of the so-called "Tibetan people's peaceful uprising against Communist China's repression in Tibet" on March 10, the Dalai Lama attempted to instigate people by saying that the Chinese government has been inciting ethnic hatred and separation between the Han Chinese and ethnic Tibetans.

As a matter of fact, it is the Dalai Lama who on various occasions has continuously incited ethnic hatred and separation between the Han Chinese and ethic Tibetans. In his "five-point peace plan for Tibet" proposed in 1987 in the US and the "seven-point new suggestions" made in 1988 in Strasbourg, France, the Dalai Lama clearly stated that Chinese troops and military facilities should withdraw from Tibet; Han Chinese should immediately stop moving to the Tibetan region, and Han Chinese settlers should leave Tibet.

Moreover, Samdhong Rinpoche, "prime minister" of the Tibetan "government-in-exile" clearly noted that non-Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region should not have autonomy, and that all government and official posts should be held by ethnic minorities. On March 6 this year, in an interview with a western media outlet, the Dalai Lama tried to stir up tensions by saying that many Han Chinese residents living in Tibet have prepared weapons to guard against Tibetans.

Facts speak louder than words. Qiangba Puncog, Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region's government, said that over the past 50 years, the central government has offered particular care and concern to Tibet, and has made full efforts to support Tibet's development. Large amounts of data also prove that Tibet has benefited from the large-scale support of the Central Government, as well as from the unity and coordination of all ethnic groups:

—— The Central Government as well as provinces and autonomous regions across the country have provided large amounts of support to Tibet. Statistics show that since the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, 94.9 percent of its fiscal expenditure, totaling 87.586 billion yuan, has been subsidized by the Central Government.

—— The Central Government has planned 80 major projects in Tibet for the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan," with a total investment of 109.7 billion yuan. Of this, 77.8 billion yuan is to be invested during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period and will be financed by the Central Government.

—— In terms of taxation, Tibet is the only region in China that has enjoyed a preferential revenue rate, which is three percentage points lower than the national tax rate, and all taxes and fees for farmers and herdsmen have been waived. In terms of finance, Tibet has always enjoyed a preferential lending rate policy, two percentage points lower than all other parts of China, as well as low insurance rates.

—— Various polices have been carried out such as free medical care for farmers and herdsmen, as well as free food and accommodation for school children of farmers and herdsmen.


Thiru N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of "The Hindu," has paid 17 visits to China since 1978, and has witnessed Tibet's economic take-off. He commented that although Tibet has been impacted by the international financial crisis, its economic growth rate is still remarkable. It is also worth mentioning the completion of the miraculous Qinghai-Tibet Railway on the "Roof of the World," which has been a major driving force for development in Tibet. Therefore, we can see that Tibet has truly benefited from the policy support of China's Central Government and the assistance of its sister provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, something that is rarely seen in other countries.

A number of experts and scholars point out that to judge whether a society is making progress, whether a system is advanced or ignorant, one must look at whether the rights and interests of the majority of people have benefited to the maximum extent. The contemporary history of Tibet over the past 50 years has proved that without the Democratic Reform, there would be no emancipation for the massive amount of working people, who account for 95 percent of Tibet's population, and Tibet's economy and society would not have made developed in leaps and bounds.

Abolition of feudal serfdom was not only an essential requirement for historical progress in Tibet it was a great achievement for the human rights cause throughout the world. This is a historical conclusion.

By People's Daily Online