The US government recently submitted to the Congress a presidential report on the Tibet issue, expressing the hope that the Chinese government would resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama as soon as possible.

Asked to comment on the presidential report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said that as is known to all, Tibet is part of China and the Tibet issue is an internal affair of China. The presidential report required by its domestic legislature made imprudent remarks on Tibetan affairs, and it constituted a violation of the basic principles of international relations and the three joint communiques between the two countries as well as interference in China's internal affairs. China strongly opposed such intervention, Zhang said.

The Chinese government's policy towards the Dalai Lama was clear. "Only when he really abandons his support for 'Tibetan independence', stops separatist activities aimed at splitting China, declares in public that he recognizes Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and recognizes Taiwan is also an inseparable part of the Chinese territory, we will contact and negotiate with him.

"We demand the US side honor its commitment to recognizing Tibet as one part of China and not supporting 'Tibetan independence' activities, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs by exploiting the Tibet issue," Zhang said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2003)