What's going on with the Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan?

The Dalai Lama was invited to Taiwan by an organization of Buddhist groups. The initial reports were that the Dalai was going to accept this offer and go to Taiwan for a visit in March. There was even talk that Lee Teng Hui would have a meeting with him. Of course the initial reponse of the CCP government was that the Dalai Lama is a splittist and the greatest slave holder of all time-the CCP's standard response concerning the Dalai Lama or "the Dalai Clique" as the CCP boys like to call it.

In fact it seemed so certain that this visit would take place that in an interview, the Dalai Lama even stated that this visit to Taiwan proved he was not a splittist.

In a report date Jan, 20, 1997 the Dalai Lama is quoted as saying this: "My trip to Taiwan clearly proves that I have abandoned the position of Tibet independence.'' This was reported in a newspaper called the United Daily News. The Dalai Lama even went further, at least according to this report, to say.

"Because Taiwan recognizes Tibet as part of China, my visit to Taiwan indicates my agreement with that position. I am not asking for Tibet independence. This point is also very obvious.''

The Dalai Lama was reported to have given this interview from his office in India. Click here to see the whole news wire write-up.

But that's not the end and here is where it gets weird. A report dated the next day, Jan 21, 1997, quoted a spokesman for the Dalai Lama named Jampel Chasang as telling something called AFP that the Dalai Lama will not go to Taiwan because the Taiwanese government believes Tibet is a part of China and the Dalai Lama will not go there until the ROC government retracts this position. Chasang is quoted as saying : "Unless this problem is resolved, a visit will not be possible" and also said : "If Taiwan gives in writing that they will change their opinion [about the status of Tibet], then the Dalai Lama may visit." To read this report click here.

So what are we to believe here folks? From the Dalai's mouth he is not a splittist and is going to Taiwan which proves he is not a splittist because the ROC believes Tibet is a part of China. The next day from a spokesman's mouth the exact opposite comes: that Dalai Lama would not go to Taiwan until the ROC recognizes Tibet is not part of China (I guess that would make the Dalai Lama a splittist again).

What to believe. The World Tibet Network News reported both stories on successive days, with no comment as to the validity of either one. The Tibet Online Resource Gathering web site made no mention of a Taiwan trip one way or the other but they did have the news that the Dalai Lama will be at PeaceJam at Denver Colorado's Regis University in June.

So what's going on? Was the Dalai Lama interview a fake? Or is the "spokesman's" report a fake? Or are both true and Dalai Lama changed his mind or misspoke? Maybe the people who contribute money to the Dalai Lama like the idea of Tibet independence or Free Tibet (you see lot's of bumper stickers saying this in rainbow letters) better than the idea that Tibet is part of China.

Don't get me wrong, I like Dalai Lama a lot better than CCP. But I am not one of the people going around say "His Holiness the Dalai Lama". It's just weird, you know.

Latest reports (see below) are that the Dalai will go. How will the CCP respond?

Update-Dalai not Splittist

Since the above contradictory statements were made there were no reports clarifying the issue or concerning whether the Dalai Lama's trip to Taiwan was still on or off. But a report has surfaced...

Steven Seagal, Hollywood action star and follower of the Dalai Lama, says he will accompany the Tibetan Buddhist leader on a visit to Taiwan in March

Yes, you read that right. Seagal visited Republic of China President Lee Teng Hui and made the above statement.

So the Dalai Lama's visit seems to be still planned for March. And if so, it seems the Dalai Lama's own comments may be more telling than the spokesman's.

But time will tell.

Another Update

The Dalai Lama recently announced that his trip to Taiwan would begin on March 23, 1997. He would give three lectures to Buddhist organizations and also maybe address the legislature. Also a meeting with Lee Teng Hui was not ruled out.

But since then there was an announcement that this trip would be delayed. No dat was givern, but it was stated that the trip would take place in the end of March or early April, so it would only be a slight delay. But now Deng Xiao Ping has died, so we will all have to wait and see what might happen.

And the latest

Dalai Lama is scheduled to go to Taiwan on March 22. Click here for a statement by the Dalai Lama on the visit. One thing of interest he says is that his visit is spiritual, but in that many people see it as political he comments on the political situation. He said "I believe that the absence of Mr. Deng Xiaoping provides new opportunities and challenges for both the Tibetans and the Chinese."

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